Pia Toscano eliminated early on 'Idol'; fabric of the universe remains surprisingly intact [Poll]

Shock. Surprise. Disbelief. Tears. In the drama department, no news this week compared with Thursday night's ninth-place elimination of the lovely and talented Pia Toscano from "American Idol."

The judges were left angry (Randy Jackson), teary (Jennifer Lopez), and insultingly cranky (Steven Tyler, who said, "I don't know, America. A mistake is one thing, but a lack of passion is unforgivable"). Show Tracker called it the "saddest night" ever on "Idol." Even Tom Hanks -- c'mon, dude, have you ever actually cast an "AI" vote? -- registered his disbelief.

The elimination was apparently so apocalyptic in person that a Los Angeles audience usually hell-bent on leaving the Idoldome stayed to watch the sobbing group hug, according to MJ's Big Blog.

"I couldn't even breathe at that moment, so the fact that I could get anything out was a miracle," Toscano told MJ backstage, describing her goodbye performance of "I'll Stand By You."

Some observers blamed the judges for being too easy on Toscano along the way, though it was fairly clear that she was being encouraged to bring her stage presence up to the level of her voice. Others saw it as proof that the voting isn't rigged to keep judges' favorites around as long as possible. And someone must have had an opinion on the role of those Gwen Stefani poufy-booty pants.

"After my performance I felt something weird," Toscano said Friday. "I said to my parents, 'I kind of feel like I'm going to be in the bottom three tomorrow.'" Despite that internal early warning system, she wound up being escorted off stage by two medics, according to E! News.

'Idol' leaves Casey Abrams shaking, shocked -- and saved [Video] [Poll]

Contestant Casey Abrams was saved from elimination on "American Idol" on Thursday night — and immediately looked as if he were going to lose it. Or maybe just faint. 

(Heck, we were ready to faint when his name came up as the week's lowest vote-getter.)

Shaking and pale after having his sing-for-your-life performance cut off early by the judges' announcement, the unique performer double-checked with them to make sure the save had really happened. "It's Top 11 — why would you do this to me? I can't believe it," Abrams said, referring to the fact that the save might affect the Top 10 summer tour roster.

Abrams fell to his knees upon his return to the stage and had to take a seat on the steps with Ryan Seacrest as he recovered from the shock. The host explained the ramifications of the save: It had been determined in advance that if the save came at this point in the competition, the tour would have 11 performers instead of 10. And next week, two performers will get the hook.

Fans might remember that Michael "Big Mike" Lynche got the save last season when there were nine contestants remaining — only to be eliminated eventually when the field was cut from four to three.

Watch the results segment, including a birthday tribute to Steven Tyler led by Stevie Wonder, below. Casey's save, and shocked reaction, is around the five-minute mark. To read all the details instead, hit Show Tracker for the recap.

Were Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and the birthday boy right to use their one save on Abrams, who they've praised as one of the most talented musicians to ever appear on "Idol"? Scroll down and vote in the poll.

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--- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Casey Abrams at the party for the "American Idol" finalists on March 3, at a moment when shock hadn't turned him pale and shaky. Yes, he got even more pale on Thursday night. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters.

Shocking news! Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler are the new 'American Idol' judges [poll]

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler have been officially unveiled as the new "American Idol" judges, an announcement that was shocking only in that the universe pretty much thought it had already happened.

OK, so it was all just rumors and "from a source" stuff in the weeks before the news conference at the Forum in Inglewood on Wednesday, but really, the only "news" here is the picture of the newbies hanging out on the same stage with Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest.

Good thing most folks knew the answers to the questions ahead of time, because there was a little audio problem that temporarily rendered Seacrest inaudible, TMZ noted.

Reports: Kara DioGuardi out at 'Idol,' Carrie Underwood says she doesn't know who's in

Kara DioGuardi has reportedly been fired from "American Idol," according to a TMZ source, with a reprieve possible only if a rumored deal with Jennifer Lopez falls through. This right after Ellen DeGeneres announced her departure.

Getting fired, with one chance to be saved? Sounds a little bit like what happened to big Mike Lynche on the most recent season of the singing competition. And we know how that worked out for him.

Lopez was the big name reported Thursday, though that's still unconfirmed, as is the rumor that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith would be pulling up a chair. Too bad the Howard Stern rumors are so old -- he has long dark hair too.

Meanwhile,  Season 4 "Idol" champ Carrie Underwood put in her two cents' worth after performing on "Today" on Friday morning. Said the newlywed: "Everybody's like, 'Do you know anything?' I'm like, 'I know what you know. I have nothing.'" She knows nothing except, when it comes to "Idol," "You never know what's going to happen."

See Underwood perform on "Today," after the break. 

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Adam Lambert is this week's 'American Idol' mentor

Adam Lambert, last season's "American Idol" runner-up, is back on the show this week as a mentor. "I feel honored to be asked," Glammy said recently on Twitter. 

Judge Randy Jackson told MTV why Lambert is a good pick: "[H]e knows, first and foremost, what they're going through [as contestants] and what the feelings are and what's happening and what's gonna happen." Jackson expects Lambert to be among the season's best mentors.

The theme this week is Elvis Presley, and the cast jetted to Las Vegas on Friday night to get some inspiration.

Lambert, who we'd like to point out isn't the male Lady Gaga, will also perform "Whataya Want From Me." 

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Adam Lambert in London on March 20 for the launch of Boy George's new single. Credit: Stuart Wilson / Getty Images.

Prepared to enter Adam Lambert's glittery domain? Click here, scroll down and feel the fabulousness. Want the headlines? Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) or become our fan on Facebook at facebook.com/ministryofgossip.

Kara DioGuardi on Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest: 'Big brother, little brother'

Kara DioGuardi's life, as fellow judge Randy Jackson might say, "is hot, dawg."

Her house is for sale, her dad's running for Senate, and she's been reliving last season's bikini moment with a photo shoot for Women's Health magazine -- plus her pointed remarks are keeping her on top of Idol Tracker's "American Idol" Judge Power Ranking.

Still, "Fox & Friends" needed to know Friday: When it comes to Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, was what happened this week real or more like professional wrestling?

"I know that that's the way they are," DioGuardi said of the what-the-heck-was-that banter between the two. "It's like big brother, little brother. If that was real I would have definitely been leaning the other way!"

About her busy life -- the songwriter says she picked up her work ethic from her dad, Joseph DioGuardi, who announced this week that he's running for Senate in New York.

One thing she learned, growing up in the '80s as the child of a then-congressman: "Get in trouble, and you're going to get in a lot more trouble!"

'Pants on the Ground': Jimmy Fallon's 'Neil Young' unplugged version

"I have a horrible feeling that song could be a hit." — Simon Cowell

On Thursday night, "Neil Young," as portrayed by Jimmy Fallon on his late-night show, spun up a classic acoustic interpretation of "Pants on the Ground."

For those of you who've been living in a box or reading the classics, that's Larry Platt's original composition from his "audition" Wednesday night on "American Idol" — the tune that for whatever reason struck a national nerve (at least, as judge Randy Jackson pointed out, with people who wear belts). 

The world moves fast anymore: It took only a day for "Pants" to evolve from 62-year-old Platt's rap number to Fallon's plaintive acoustic paean to the days of yore, when belts were belts and butts fell below the waistline.

Fallon, for the record, did not dance.

Revisit Platt's original rendition with the video embedded after the jump. And yes, the Ministry laughed too.

— Christie D'Zurilla

Confirmed: Simon Cowell is leaving 'American Idol'

Die-hard Simon Cowell fans, set your DVRs now to record the entire season of "American Idol," because the most caustic (but often the most on-target) of the show's judges is calling it quits when this cycle is done.

And who will replace him? "We're not going to try to find a Simon clone to do what he does, because he's one of a kind," said Fox TV President Peter Rice, the New Jersey Star-Ledger's Alan Sepinwall reports. Randy Jackson, who just this morning was discounting rumors of Simon's departure, is the last original judge standing.

The confirmation came today at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena.

Looks as if Simon's brother had the story nailed back in late December -- but why all the speculation?

According to Show Tracker, it was "partly because we didn't have an agreement. We reached an agreement formally at about half past 11 this morning," Cowell said.

Celebrity hit parade: Randy Jackson, Nick Jonas, Kanye West and the King

Our friends at Pop & Hiss do a bang-up job in general, but we just noticed they've been covering a bunch of celebrity-style dish out of the music scene the past day or two.

Did you hear about Randy Jackson asking for Grammy voting help on Twitter? How about the part where it wasn't him doing the tweeting? 

And of course, to start the new year, Kanye West invoked the musical mojo of Kobe Bryant with an ALL CAPS MISSION STATEMENT on his blog. Also at that link, you'll find further discussion of the leaked song from Michael Jackson and Lenny Kravitz.

JoBros fans might take an interest ...