American Idol Recap: Ryan, Say What?! Idol’s Shocking Elimination

From the mouth of one of this show’s most successful stars, “You stole my happy/You made me cry/I wanna undo it.” And that right there, ladies and gentlemen, sums up the aftermath of tonight’s results show. By the time this review is published, it is no secret for any timezone in America (or the world for that matter) that Pia Toscano was eliminated from American Idol last night. From the moment Kieren dimmed the lights and Ryan Seacrest read the results, the foundation that has held up the sanctuary that gave us the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino, and most recently Lee Dewyze was shaken to its core. One of Season 10′s favored contestants was sent home packing … all thanks to America’s votes.

Since the inception of the online voting this season, voting on Idol has taken a drastic turn; and I’ll be damned if this isn’t a turn for the worse. Not only have we lost our FIFTH consecutive female in what will soon become American Boyfriend, but we’ve lost a contestant who many believed might just crack the top three with her consistent powerful vocals week after week. One might initially believe (I was one of them) that by adding online voting, a greater population of people (myself included) would be more willing to click for their favorite. With what many deem as extra “security” with online voting, me thinks fans are taking their favorite’s place in the competition even MORE for granted than in season’s past. Now I’m not going to sit here and blame other “lesser” contestants on the show for Pia’s elimination. It’s not fair to Pia and it’s not fair to them. In the end, America voted (or didn’t vote in this case) and brought out the next Chris Daughtry debacle. The ongoing debates in the coming days will no doubt revolve around 2 hot topic storylines. 1) Didn’t Pia deserve to stay longer than contestants X, Y, and Z (contestants shall remain nameless as I try and contain myself) and B) Ya think the judges regret using that save now?

I would like to talk about the last point for just a minute. Without bashing Casey, using the save at the Top 11 juncture was just a poor and miscalculated decision on the judges’ part. When you have sat all season long touting the best talent pool you think this show has ever seen, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist from the great land of NASA to realize this season could consequently be closer than ever before. Therefore, waiting to use the save might be the most logical move, right? Wrong. In the heat of the moment (and what a surprising moment that was a few weeks ago), the judges chose to even forego the “sing for your life” portion to toss aside the save for the rest of the season back when our finalists numbered in the double digits. And now we’ve lost someone like Pia before the likes of Haley, Jacob, Stefano and more. Oops, I wasn’t supposed to go there. That’s all I’ll say, otherwise I’d be elaborating on points 1 and B all day, all the while bashing quite a few people in the process. I’ll let you all do that in the comment section (and in our FORUMS) below.

What’s worse, Papa Nigel and company decided to throw at us one of the slowest moving, filler-filled results shows in a long time. Kicking off with a rock medley that would have probably been better produced by a bunch of drunk college students in a Friday night karaoke bar, the show was just set for disaster from the get go, right? Not to mention the Ford music video that tired to mix in a bit of Ocean’s Eleven, Get Smart, and Deal or No Deal. While charisma is not lacking in Russell Brand, owning the camera as an actor is a lot different than owning the stage as an artist. Oh, I don’t know, allowing the contestants a visit from a musician who’s no stranger to the performance stage might have been more fitting. But, Russell is promoting his movie, and that is a prerequisite for an appearance on Idol.

After Stefano was announced as our first contestant in the night’s bottom three, we were treated (or subjected) to an interesting take on Constantine Maroulis’s “Unchained Melody,” which really started to lose me, oh about 15 seconds in. Sounds like even Tatiana del Toro was booked tonight. Not long after, Gwen Stefani all but held up a sign reading “HELP!” in her little video package for having to fake her way through a fun session of playing dress-up with the three remaining females the “season of the guys” has left. Then, the night’s pre-moment of truth hit. Pia was thrown into the bottom three, prompting Steven Tyler to begin the night’s bleep-a-thon. Just when you thought Idol wasn’t going to sink any lower tonight and in keeping with the theme of the wrong people giving timely advice, Papa Nigel and company sent the crew to the offices of TMZ to learn about how to hold one’s own in the world of the media. Cue Phil Dunphy’s “why the face?” please. Idol then went on to do what it is best known for … making America feel comfortable with a decision before throwing a bomb into their face later. Sending Jacob to the bottom 3 after last night’s performance, which lacked more than Paris Hilton’s fan base, seemed to a chance to right this ship.

Just when you thought Captain Seacrest was beginning to steer the show in the right direction, a topless Iggy Pop took the stage, continuing our bleep-a-thon and proving that even the greatest rock legends no longer have to actually sing while performing if they flail around stage speaking the lyrics to the song in the process. I’m pretty sure Jennifer Lopez was as uninterested in the whole performance as Detroit was after Charlie Sheen took to the stage last weekend. Then, my dear and loyal readers and Idol worshippers, the shock heard round the world. We’re down to Jacob, Stefano and Pia and Ryan’s about the show us the one who doesn’t belong – Pia Toscano. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that she didn’t belong in the bottom 3, she apparently does not belong on the juggernaut SINGING competition. Pia’s elimination prompted the water works from Jennifer Lopez, the F bomb from Randy Jackson and helped wake up Steven Tyler from his Thursday night nap. I guess we have one thing to be thankful for from the mess this season has become. Jennifer Lopez was the first of the judges to say anything of substance this week. “I have no idea…I’m shocked, I’m angry, I don’t even know what to say.” You’re not alone, Jennifer. You’re not alone.

By the way, we still want to “Undo It.”

So my friends, what’d you think of last night’s elimination? Are you among the crowd giving up on Idol this season or will you listen to Ryan’s plea and stick around because “we need you?” Was Iggy Pop really all Idol could bring on stage tonight? Show of hands, how many were hoping Nigel Lythgoe was going to appear on stage and reverse the voting decision? Let us know below.