'American Idol' shocker: Pia Toscano eliminated

The "American Idol" voters have spoken, shockingly eliminating the incredibly talented (and widely perceived front-runner) Pia Toscano to turn the top 9 into the top 8, and I think it's probably the saddest night of "Idol" I've ever seen.

At the end of the show, after Pia sang -- just because, it seemed, Ryan Seacrest, who looked a little shook-up by the results himself, wanted to hear one more song -- Ryan begged us to stay with the show for the rest of the season.

"We need you," he said, noting that the night proved that we really had to vote for our favorites to keep them in.

But I'm with Jennifer Lopez, who said, after Pia's name was announced, to resounding boos from the crowd (and Randy Jackson shaking his head and mouthing "No, no"), "I have no idea what just happened here. I'm shocked. I'm angry. I don't even know what to say."

Even Randy, who rarely displays anything other than "in it to win it" enthusiasm and "dawg"-gone mild disappointment, confessed that the vote had left him "shocked" and "gutted." Though he was never really mad on the show, he said, "This makes me mad. What is going on?"

Steven Tyler contended that the vote showed an "unforgivable" lack of passion on the voters' part. "They're wrong. I don't know what happened with this," he said.

The credits rolled to shots of wet eyes and the sound of someone –- Pia, one assumes, but really, it could have been anyone -- sobbing.

Someone remind me that it's just a TV show ...

Pia not only had the most beautiful voice in this competition, but also showed one of the most admirable work ethics, and looked and sounded like a million bucks every time she walked out on that stage.

What do I know, but I really thought she had a chance to win it all.

And how brutal is it that, like Casey Abrams before her, she stood with the far-less-talented Stefano Langone in the bottom 2 and watched him be sent to safety as she was sent away.

Oh, cursed "Idol" gods! Is there no way to change the rules retroactively in order to give the judges just one more save and keep Pia around?

Must we really watch Scotty McCreery mug and point and Jacob Lusk preen and shimmy, Paul McDonald sing thinly and Stefano shmaltzily, and not have Pia around to set the stage on fire –- hitting those notes gorgeously full-on and holding them forever -- for the rest of the season?

Cruel, cruel "Idol" voters. I shake my fist at you and take comfort in the knowledge that, what the heck, Pia will have a long, successful career anyway, right? She'll get a record contract and make her way in the music world. Won't she? I mean ... won't she?

What do you think? Please, cheer me up by telling me that you, too, are very sad to see Pia go.

Full Show Tracker coverage of "American Idol"

-- Amy Reiter

Photo: Pia Toscano performs on "American Idol" Wednesday. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

Comments

[missy]

am glad pia is gone! i hope all females go b/c the males r so much better there is only 3 good male singers one of them should win next idol. it relly dont matter b/c they all will get a record deal and that isnt rite only the idol that win have a good day

[Judy]

i think steven taylor should sing one of his songs like angel,cry,amazing,let go a old song that us people love and miss. i would love to hear him sing again.

[j emeott]

Pia is the best . Iwill not watch the show again.
You need more than 1 save.

[hilda correa]

I screamed at that stupid unforgettable decision. How could this happen. The people with less her talent stayed. Its due to lack of voters who are freaking lazy and did not want to take the time and vote. It figures New york! You complain but "Did you vote"? God will see her through because God has a bigger plan for her,just like Jennifer hudson and Adam lambert. Pia if you can read my comment i Prayed that you and your Grandpas dream come true. You are a humble young woman with blessings from above. So Keep the faith!!Your name is up in lights already!!I will not watch American Idol anymore they are not truthful in all they do.You are the American Idle so we need not to look further.
God bless you and i will get your autograph one day. I am from Brooklyn and my relatives live near you so...Do it girl for us...God bless you made Grandpa PROUD..
lOVE ALWAYS HILDA..

[kathie kvasager]

Sorry Ryan - season is OVER for me!!!! Can't even believe that those voting have "ears??????" Do they not know talent???????????? Pia you are the "WINNER" in my eyes and I'm sure I speak for many others.

[Donna Washam]

I was just watching the Today show with Pia as a guest. They were talking about changing the way the vote goes on American Idol. The american public will vote only for the bottom 3 and the judges will decide who gets there. If our voice by voting is not important, not good enough for the shows producers then I say EVERYONE STOP VOTING. If our opinion does not count to them then don't vote and see how the producers like it. I have kept my phone busy since the very first Idol. I will not waste my time tonight. Pia had the look but she really was not all the great at anything but ballads. I'm not voting tonight! Are YOU if you don't count, if the producers "slap" you in the face and says you are wrong you don't matter. Wake up america!

[Mary Rittershaus@yahoo.com]

I cant believe how the viewers voted. What were they thinking. All the contestants this year are excellent and it is IS very hard to eliminate any of them, but with Stephano and Pia being in the bottom three we should have said goodbye Stephanoted her. However all this back fired on the viewers who voted her off. She gotten exposure on TV and a record deal!!!!! I am in agreement that the judges used their SAVE to early. She's on her way!!!

[Val]

I'm seriously so confused! I don't even want to watch the show anymore knowing she won't be there. It's just so sad. That week I didn't watch the show b/c I didn't have time and I didn't vote, but I didn't find out until saturday that she was eliminated and when my friend told me I thought she was joking. This is kind of like when Chris Daughtry got eliminated during whatever season he was on, because he was one of the best and he just got eliminated, which I'm guessing is why they invented the judge's save but they should be able to save her too! WE ALL NEED TO WRITE HER FAN LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND TELL HER NOT TO EVER GIVE UP ON HER DREAMS BECAUSE SHE HAS A MILLION FANS WAITING FOR HER! I just can't believe this.

[Val]

Pia if you ever happen to come across this comment, just know you have a million fans that love you! I just don't think we all thought we needed to vote to keep you safe, because of how amazing you were. We all thought you would win no matter what. Even if you didn't get the title, you still deserve it. Keep going! I know you're going to make it big!

[ali]

Naima and Pia eliminated HORRIBLE !!they really screwed up giving up that save to casey!!

[grace]

scotty is my favourite singing with soul , good voice,touches me, keep on replay the song duet with lauren , I Told You So, everyday and every minute. I am mother age 50 of 4 teenage children but i love to hear all scotty's country song. There is a tone that touches you. I will buy his album.

[Ken]

It is Amercan Idol, all the contestants play by the same rules, America voted, so fair is fair. I think it is a shame that this shook out to be such a big deal, how does the rest of the highly talented contestants feel by being called second class acts to her. I do not think that the judges should vote, if America does not like you, so be it. Tough peanut butter!! I did not mind looking at her stuffed in a dress but for me, her singing was boring. If it had been a modeling contest, she would have been my number 1 vote.

[grace]

scotty of AI singing touches my soul with his singing and his voice ,very special tone. I love his voice. All AI contesteant are talented please not Pia alone. People vote and the most favourite and most vote win. If you want Pia win then you go and vote and make her win .Why all the fuss.

[Rick Mazzucchi]

Not so surprising if you consider that most voters assumed she was safe and wasted their votes trying to save the more marginal entertainers, combined with the fact that the majority of voters are women (who in general prefer male heart throbs) and teenagers who see Pia as over the hill.

Such is the ludicrous nature of the American Idol teenage popularity contest posing as a talent competition. Thankfully the judges did a great job finding the top 11 that will deservedly tour America irrespective of the outcome of the viewer vote vituperation.

[Abigail van der Westhuizen (Cape Town)]

I am not a big American Idol fan, but this year I had someone glueing me to the screen every time she sang. Pia gave me goosebumps. I lost all my trust in the voting system, thus will not be supporting Idols for the remainder of this season, because the best of the best was voted out.

[Brian B]

America voted.....Pia was boring!! It's really unfair how everyone is making the other contestants feel over Pia being voted off! If they change the format in the voting process I will stop watching!!

[grandma]

I'm 73 years old. I predicted that Pia would be sent home. Why? She is a beautiful, extremely talented young woman. The "stupid kids" who rule this show are not a bit interested in her. They will start to elimanate some others. Some will shock you and some will not. Scotty might actually win. Why? Because he's cute. I like country western probably more than the average, but he just isn't American Idol material. We'll see.

[Peter Gratton]

I too was saddened to see Pia voted off the show, but I was more upset at the reaction of the judges. If American Idol was to be a talent contest the judges, or a host of judges, should have had the only say in who gets voted off each week. By opening the show up to the puplic they created a popularity contest. All you need is enough family and friends to vote for you and then a little luck with the public and your in. I believe the judges should either accept who the public votes out or change the rules. Personally I would like to see the later.

[Ben]

I am shocked that all of you people are surprised by this. Every season excellent talent has gotten kicked off too early while weak marginally talented jokers made it through. You can't have a show with a bunch of shallow tone deaf tv watchers voting on music and expect the results to be good. Its supposed to be a singing contest but most fans vote because they like somebody's outfit or because they think they are attractive or because they feel bad for someone or think they are funny or don't like the judges so they always vote against them. This is hardly the first time America got it wrong. If America got it right most of the time there wouldn't be so many examples of idol runner ups and top 5 finishers having more successful careers than the actual winners. There are more successful non-winners than successful winners.

[michael]

this is the straw that broke the camels back, I will never watch this show again,
when you kick off the best talant by far for this season, there is not one single contestant on this show that can even hold a candle to Pia, she was the complete package awesome singer, very good looking and personible. this show is now in the same catorgy as the ""GONG SHOW".