Queens Native Pia Toscano Eliminated On ‘American Idol’

April 8, 2011 12:17 PM

Pia Toscano. (credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – Songbird Pia Toscano was eliminated from “American Idol” on Thursday, leaving the judges who had lavished praise on her in despair over the audience’s decision.

1010 WINS’ Mona Rivera reports: Shock and outrage in Howard Beach

PHOTO GALLERY: Pia Toscano’s “Idol” Run

Queens Native Pia Toscano Eliminated On American Idol

(credit: Mona Rivera/1010 WINS)

The Howard Beach native wasn’t just a local favorite: the show’s judges all expressed shock and outrage at her elimination.

Randy Jackson covered his head and mouthed a repeated “No” after host Ryan Seacrest announced that Toscano received the lowest number of viewer votes after her performance Wednesday of “River Deep — Mountain High.”

Toscano, 22, managed to remain composed on stage as the judges decried the results.

“I have no idea what happened here. I’m shocked. I’m angry,” said judge Jennifer Lopez.

Steven Tyler said viewers were wrong, adding, “She’s beautiful. When she sings, she’s a bird.”

Jackson called her one of the best singers in the show’s 10th-season field and warned that “no one is safe” if votes aren’t cast for them.

“I’m never upset on this show, and I’m never really mad, but this, like, this makes me mad,” Jackson said. “What is going on?”

A sign supporting Pia Toscano in Howard Beach (credit: Mona Rivera/1010 WINS)

After choosing “I’ll Stand by You” for her swan song, Toscano was embraced by Jacob Lusk, 23, of Compton, Calif., who had landed in the bottom three vote-getters with her and Stefano Langone, 21, of Kent, Wash.

Celebrities on Twitter erupted in a chorus of disbelief at the elimination. Some of the celebs who Tweeted their support for Toscano include Alyssa Milano, Dax Shepard and Minka Kelly.

In Howard Beach, restaurants have named dishes after Toscano, including Pia a la Penne and Pia Pizza. Some people are refusing to accept that their hometown gal has been voted off the show.

“I think there should be a recount, maybe something was wrong with the phone lines,” one woman said. “They should investigate it.”

Others think the show was fixed and that Toscano was sacrificed for ratings.

“It seemed plotted almost,” another woman said.

Some may pin Toscano’s elimination on the belief that she’s a one-trick pony who only sang ballads – which was the only criticism she received in recent weeks from the judges — and choosing the up-tempo Tina Turner hit wasn’t enough to save her.

This season of “Idol” has been one of the most emotional and unpredictable in recent years. Just two weeks ago, front-runner Casey Abrams was bailed out by the judges’ one and only save after gaining the least amount of the viewers’ votes.

Toscano is moving forward. Her songs are for sale on iTunes and she will be joining the rest of the finalists in a summer tour.

“It wasn’t in my cards and everything happens for a reason, so you really just have to stay positive and thankful that I was able to have this experience,” Toscano said Friday.

Prior to landing her spot on “Idol,” Toscano won the Mets Anthem Search in 2008.

What do you think of Toscano’s elimination? Will you continue to watch “Idol?” Sound off in our comments section.

eleanor

I will not be watching the remainder episodes of this show. Unfortunately the one “save” was used for a singer who will most likely be eliminated shortly.
TINA

R THEY KIDDING. PIA WAS AMAZING TALENT. STEFANO AND WHATS HIS NAME, JACOB JASON OH I DON’T EVEN CARE WHAT HIS NAME IS. JUST LIKE CHRIS ALLEN, THE MOST UNTALENTED SINGERS ARE WINNER! PIA YOU ARE THE BEST AND YOU WILL GO FAR!
brooklyn4ever

Granted she is your typical Howard Beach guidette, but she coud really and truly sing. She has an amazing voice, but the stage presence really was not there. Someone will pick her up and sign her now that she has made herself known. Why can’t they get rid of Paul. He is so freakin’ annoying and I cannot believe that he is getting enough votes to save his butt every week. When he sings, he always sounds like he is whispering. Randy, Steven and Jennifer have got to be kickking themselves now in knowing that the one save they had was wasted. II wish Pia, Buona Fortuna!

Larry

Hi Brooklyn4ever,
I am from Brooklyn too. I agree with you. Paul should have been sent home 2 to 3 weeks ago. I know what the problem is. Did you know you can vote more then one time for any and all of the contestants. Yes Paul has some good friends that probably voted for him hundreds of times. Look at the voting rules on Americanidol.com. It tells you, you can vote online 50 times and almost untold times by phone or texting. It should be one person, one vote but some people don’t believe in this. Pass this on to your Brooklyn Friends. And tell FOX to make it fair,one person, one vote.

brooklyn4ever

Hey Larry,
Oh without a doubt that Paul had everyone that knew him burning up the telephone lines. I mean how else would he still be there?. I coulld not even think of sitting and listening to him sing song after song on an entire album. I think I’d go mad. This show has seriously jumped the shark and I am starting to believe that it is fixed.

R ALLI

It was the biggest shock on Idol. Everyone looks forward every week to see what Pia is going to bring and she brings it. Forget about how she looks, she is a great singer and of course it’s the people who didn’t vote is to be blamed. Most people vote on who they like and their favorites, most don’t vote on who can really sing and that sucks!!! Honestly i don’t even feel like to continue watching the show.
R. Seacrest

0bservations: 1) Pia SANG good and LOOKED good, but not a lotta personality / emotion. Turned some folks off. 2) NO real stage presence; just stood there when she sang. 3) teeny-bopper girls vote, they AIN’T voting for a pretty diva! 4) She WAS top 3 on the show for sure. 5) She WILL be seen again; great lloks, great voice will sell.
disco

We need to set up an electoral college for American Idol
disco

I think we need to set up an electoral college for American Idol
cubana

I will not watch the show anymore if Pia is not there
mjaneking

NO! I am not watching the show…ridiculous…come on …..Sefano? Jacob? ugh
Larry

Fix the voting system. Do you know you can vote more then once for any and all of the contestants. What happen to one person, one vote. Our elections honor that dream, so should American Idol. That would make the voting fairer then it is now. The voting rules state that you can vote 50 times online and many times by the phone and texting.
Fix the system. Jennifer Lopez said she didn’t know what happened. Randy Jackson looked puzzled. Fix the voting system and you will see the talent come through.
Tonka Johnny

It’s a NEW YORK thing. Most American’s don’t like NEW YORKERS. Pia’s from Queens NY. It’s a shame, but the truth. Actually, the judges saved the wrong person!!!
LV

It was her time to go. Pia is boring and predictable. Its not just a singing competition. You have to be entertaining. She clearly did not have the WHOLE PACKAGE.

Vic

LV — you are one total moron. I suppose Yukon Cornelius or Mr. Ed’s nice, Hayley, deserve to be up there. You have no clue and your comment clearly came out of a brain filled with nothing but air. Judges f’ed up royally by wasting a save on Casey who’s going to go nowhere like Taylor Hicks and disappear into oblivion. Tonka — most Americans don’t like New Yorks because as Steve Tyler plainly put it — it’s a jealous thing. But yeah Americans clearly like Circus Freaks as showing on the “saved:” stage. With exception of Jacob and James NONE OF THEM DESERVE TO UP THERE. Whole package, LV the Loser, means looks and talent. Something you probably don’t have either of.

LV

Vic,

Are you having your ‘woman-time’?

tyler

Who honestly cares.
Frances Santos

People get over it. America voted and it’s America who votes – Now for all those who wanted Pia to win will know how I felt when Chris Daughtery got voted Off. You are going to have to live with it.

If she is good she will have a great career.
Alison O. Jordan

I think Pia was too polished for Idol. The audience is looking for is someone they can relate to and see growing into a star. Pia is an awesome singer yet her lack of connection to the home viewer and her repetitious lounge-singer arm movements led to her being voted off. Teen girls and middle aged women are the voters. The go to folks for me (the latter) are Paul, Casey, Laura and Haley. The rising star that the audience sees as representing them is what earns votes on Idol. American Idol is not “The Best Singer” competition, US royalty. Pia is too rehearsed a singer for this stage. Melinda, Jennifer Hudson, and others preceded her. Indeed predictable.

Joe

Yes, Pia was too good for the show, because the show has no talent left.

Dale LaFrenere

Complete shock!!!! I do think she will be signed by someone, Simon Cowell, or Ellen I truly hope so.
Cubano

We are not looking for the best singer, we are looking for the american idol.

Cubana

El objetivo es descubrir verdaderos talentos como lo es Pia Toscano. Una voz poco inusual de encontrar, ella es unica. Ser idol significa ser el mejor en talento y en mi opinion american idol ha demostrado con su sistema ser muy mediocre en la seleccion de los verdaderos talentos. Es una inmoralidad, parece un circo en vez de un competitivo show
PiaWasRobbed

Oh yea, because just like Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino… America picks an idol every time. Pa-leeeese!

Michael Lomuscio

The top 2 are Pia and James.. Pia should not have been voted off.
Pia Fan Keyport NJ

PIA HAS THE WHOLE PACKAGE!!!!!!! I believe what happened here was, a lot of voters vote for a couple of contestants that they like. When one contestant stands out, the voters may think this one person has enough voters voting for them so they vote for their second contestant. My friends and I got into debate one day over this. If you like a contestant, don’t take it for granted that he/she will get enough votes so you vote for your second best. Focus on one contestant. As for the SAVE, the judges used it too soon. They should have waited because even though I like Casey, he doesn’t have the “whole package”. The judges should have really thought that one out. If they did, Pia would definitely still be in it. I wish her luch with whatever she does. She will do fine because the girl has it. Who knows, maybe she’ll wind up in Vegas with Celine Dion. I’d love to see her do a duet with Celine. That would be great. Good luck Pia, we love you.
cocosgramma

Of course I will continue to watch. Pia has only herself and her boring ballads to blame for being voted off the show.
Keith Lenik

Last night, once again,proved to me that this show has never been about who the best “singer” is, but rather who the teeniebopper voters consider the cutest or most adorable. This is why I know expect Scottie or Laura to be the winner when it is all over.
Michael Ward

Let the snobs howl. Pia sang an up tempo song, not her forte, which just put her in the same category as all the other girl screamers. Her sublety and grace were not showcased. It is not always best to listen to the judges, they are performers, not nuclear physicists or even music scholars. They wasted their veto on Casey who may be a great musician (doubt), but is the least vocally talented singer among those remaining. And it is a singing competition, not a bass playing/chord composing competition. If the American people are such fools, assemble a learned panel of musicians to judge and watch what happens to the ratings.
Mr.G

This show is fixed. You will see in the future that Pia will end up with a contract with one of the Judges and the one who win it all this season will fall on there face.

Akwanet Rubby

Mr. G,

The show isn’t fixed. But, I’ll be honest with you: my cat IS fixed.

Carlos Liriano

that is show business, some have it, some don’t
Angel

I think that its a joke at this stage of the came and I will not watch the rest of the show.