First guy to go! American Idol rocker Paul McDonald ends women's losing streak leaving Jennifer Lopez close to tears

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Sent packing: Rocker Paul McDonald was the first male to be voted off of this season's American Idol on tonight's live show and was given the news by host Ryan Seacrest


Rocker Paul McDonald's dreams of stardom were cut short tonight after he was knocked out of American Idol - the first male in the top 13 to get the boot.

Before leaving the stage, the 25-year-old, from Nashville, sang Maggie May one last time at the special request of judge Jennifer Lopez who was close to tears at his exit.

'Let's not be sad about this,' the latest cast-off said as he got the crowd to its feet. 'It's been good fun, a good ride, it's been good times.'


Sad: Judge Jennifer Lopez was close to tears when the results were read out and asked him to sing Maggie May as his final song


Scruffy bearded McDonald had been in the bottom three with fellow contestants Haley Reinhart and Stefano Langone after his version of Old Time Rock and Roll from the movie Risky Business failed to impress audiences.

After over 53 million votes were cast, McDonald is the first male to be eliminated and actually sent home since the top 12 - after Casey Abrams was saved by the judges two weeks ago.

Stefano has received praise from the judges last night for putting on his best performance of the competition so far so it was surprising to see him him in the bottom three again - but with Idol there are no guarantees.


Tough competition: Also in the bottom three tonight were Stefano Langone and Haley Reinhart - but they were ultimately sent back to safety


Nail-biting: The contestants had another nail-biting wait to see if they get to stay on the life-changing show for another week


So long: Jacob Lusk hugged McDonald who is leaving the live shows but will get to take part in the American Idol tour this summer


He returned to his safe seat to fewer boos than last week after the crowd went crazy when Pia Toscano was sent home - a favourite to win.

The remaining seven hopefuls are Casey Abrams, Scotty McCreery, Haley Reinhart, Lauren Alaina, Jacob Lusk, Stefano Langone and James Durbin.

Meanwhile, last week's reject Toscano was supporting her pals from a star-studded audience which included soul divas Chaka Khan and Anita Baker.


Giving her the eye: Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart fuelled the fire that they are having a 'showmance' with a rousing jazz performance


Country crooners: Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina also performed a duet tonight


Former Idol winner Kelly Clarkson performed her song 'Don't You Want to Stay?' with Jason Aldean.

The first time Idol took host Ryan Seacrest to task about 'rephrasing' her tweets on air - like the one where she said Casey was cute.

'Why, what did you tweet about Casey?', Seacrest asked with fake innocence.


Sultry: Rihanna brought the house down with her debut performance of California King Bed


'Oh no, he's certainly delicious, he's cute', Kelly admitted which made the jazz singer blush.

'I just mean, you don't say the whole thing! So many people think I'm some kind of pervert or something', she added.

Casey and Hailey continued to crank the rumour mill of a secret romance between the two of them with a spirited jazz duet where he could not take his eyes off his fellow contestant.

The hour long show was given a further injection of star power when singer Rihanna took to the stage to showcase her new song California King Bed.


Scary: The contestants had filmed a zombie-themed Ford commercial which was aired during the show


Sporting bushy, scarlet curls and a flowing gown, the 23-year-old Barbadian beauty belted out the ballad and even threw in a spot of air guitar.

After the song, Rihanna let audiences in on a secret from her upcoming summer tour.

'We've designed the stage and we have two sections on the stage where fans can actually be in the show and on the stage, closer than they've ever been,' she told host Ryan Seacrest. 'It's real VIP.'

The contestants had filmed a zombie-themed Ford commercial which was aired during the show.


source: dailymail

At the bottom of the voting pile... Pia Toscano 'had no chance of winning American Idol'

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

No chance: Pia Toscano never had a shot at winning American Idol, according to show sources


Pia Toscano never had a shot at winning American Idol, according to show sources.

The talent show hopeful, who was voted off last week, ‘was never going to win’, a production insider revealed after saying: ‘It was only a matter of time before Pia was kicked off.’

Toscano was apparently nowhere near the top of the voting pile, whereas four of the other five remaining contestants are said to be ‘fairly consistently placing in the top four.’

And while Idol judge Jennifer Lopez was left in tears when Toscana was eliminated, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says she was 'never a frontrunner' because she didn't connect with the audience,

He told Entertainment Weekly: 'The fact of the matter is that it appears that Pia didn't connect with the audience as much as we maybe think she did.'


Hectic schedule: Yesterday Toscano was spotted visiting the MTV Sttudios in New York for an interview with MTV news in a black skirt and green shirt


But although the source revealed Pia’s unfortunate news to TMZ, they did say that the singer’s rumoured record deal with Interscope Records is more than just gossip.

Pia is said to be just moments away from signing the deal, which may make her exit from the show a happy ending after all.

The 22-year-old is said to begin work immediately on recording her debut album under the record company, which is chaired by Idol mentor Jimmy Lovine.


Date night: Meanwhile Pia Toscano was spotted enjoying a dinner date with Dancing With The Stars hunk Mark Ballas


Meanwhile the five remaining contestants, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Jacob Lusk and Casey Abrams are still in the running to become the next idol.

But since Pia’s departure from the show, she has been having a successful social life and was spotted enjoying a dinner date with Dancing With The Stars hunk Mark Ballas.

The pair were spotted leaving the Gulfstream seafood restaurant in Century City in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Toscano had apparently been eyeing the 24-year-old dancing professional for some time, as they had both been filming on the same CBS lot in Hollywood.


Record deal: Despite being voted off American Idol, Pia is said to be moments away from signing a record deal


Emotional exit: Idol judge Jennifer Lopez was in tears when Toscano was voted off the show


They had yet to be formally introduced before Toscano's time on the Fox show was cut short, however, so the New York born diva was forced to take action.

And the unlikely cupid in to this very 21st century talent show Romeo and Juliet is none other than WWE wrester Chris Jericho, 40.

According to TMZ, Toscano shares a mutual friend with Jericho - who is currently competing in the ABC's weekly dance-off - so she passed her number on to him.

The date is understood to have gone well, with both parties wanting to see each other again.


Final Song - Pia Toscano - I'll Stand By You - American Idol Top 9 Results Show - 04/07/11



source: dailymail

Jennifer Hudson and Ashton Kutcher Tweet their shock after Pia Toscano is eliminated from American Idol

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Shock: In the biggest shock of American Idol so far this season, 22-year old Pia Toscano was eliminated from the competition last night


Hollywood fans of American Idol were up in arms last night after the shock elimination of Pia Toscano last night.

Despite her stunning looks and incredible voice, the 22-year-old New York received the least public votes, despite being named favourite to win by all three judges.

Celebrities including Tom Hanks, Ashton Kutcher, Ellen DeGeneres and Idol alumni Jennifer Hudson Tweeted their shock at the results.


Out of three: The elimination came after Pia was in the bottom three with Jacob Lusk, left and Stefano Langone, right


Hanks wrote: 'Don't have an Idol habit, but how could the USA vote Pia off? I may be done for the season.'

Kutcher Tweeted: 'Who are the people that vote on American idol? That's just crazy! That Pia girl is dope.'

Chat show host DeGeneres - who was a judge last season - said she was 'shocked and sad', while Hudson wrote: 'I can not believe they just eliminated Pia ! ReAlly..????'

Judge Jennifer Lopez was lost for words and clearly furious after the results were read out during the live show.

'I can't believe what just happened here,' she said. 'I'm shocked and angry... I don't know what to say.'


Still smiling: The raven-haired beauty still managed to compose herself during most of the elimination


Randy Jackson was equally bemused and told Pia: 'I'm with Jennifer, all in shock. You were one of the best singers in this.

He reiterated that no matter how much talent and wow factor the contestants had, they still had to watch their backs

'No one is safe and you've got to vote for the ones you love.'

Aerosmith rocker Steve Tyler simply complimented the brunette stunner.


Angry: Both Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson were horrified with the outcome


'You look so beautiful when you sing - like a bird,' he said.

Pia who hails from Queens, New York had sang Tina Turner's River Deep - Mountain High on Wednesday night.

Jennifer had said afterwards that she loved the performance but wanted more from her: 'That was amazing,' she said.

'Vocally you proved to us you can sing up tempo. But I'm going to keep pushing you - what I want you to do now is start.'


Tears: But following the song she broke down in tears and needed to be comforted by the fellow idol contestants


Joining Pia in the bottom three last night were Stefano Langone and Jacob Lusk, both of whom were forecast as a good bet for elimination this week.

Upon finding out the results from host Ryan Seacrest, Pia still managed a smile.
She then went home to a standing ovation from the judges following her performance of I'll Stand by You.

But after the song she broke down in tears and needed to be comforted by the fellow idol contestants.

Pia's elimination wasn't the only thing to generate shocked looks.

Jennifer Lopez blushed and had to look away during Iggy Pop's performance of Wild One as he gyrated his hips just inches from her face.

She was the last judge to her feet to applaud the legendary punk rocker.

Arthur star Russell Brand also made a surprise appearance as a charisma coach for contestants.


Watch out: Iggy approached the judges midway through his performance


The pre-taped segment showed Brand meeting with contestants and offering advice.

The show also featured a performance of Unchained Melody by season four contestant Constantine Maroulis.

The other remaining finalists include Casey Abrams, who last month scored the judges' once-per-season save, Haley Reinhart, James Durbin, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina and Paul McDonald.


Antics: Arthur star Russell Brand also made a surprise appearance as a charisma coach for contestants




source: dailymail