‘American Idol’: Frontrunner Pia Toscano Voted Off

Becky Bain | April 8, 2011 4:35 am

Our mouths are agape. Our minds are flustered. Our fists are thrust toward the sky. How did Season 10’s frontrunner Pia Toscano get voted off of American Idol?! And did we just lose our last chance of a female winning this competition?

If you thought Casey Abrams being eliminated — and quickly saved by the judges — was shocking, last night’s results show probably made you buckle and swoon onto your fainting couch. It was bewildering enough that Pia was in the Bottom Three, joined by Stefano (expected) and Jacob (unsurprisingly, after his arrogant comments made on Wednesday night during his pre-roll tape).

But who could have known that Pia Toscano, who has sailed above all other contestants at the top of our Idol Power List every single week, could have scored the lowest number of votes? She was consistently praised by the judges, and although we called the singer’s performance of Tina Turner’s “River Deep Mountain Wide” a bit underwhelming, no one could deny that Pia’s vocal skills are unparalleled this season.

“I have no idea what just happened here,” Jennifer Lopez said, dumbfounded at the results. “I’m shocked. I’m angry. I just don’t even know what to say.”

“You’re one of the best singers in this,” Randy added. “I don’t usually get mad on the show. This makes me mad.”

So what didn’t America like about Pia? Being that this is the first and only time Pia wound up in the Bottom Three, we’re assuming they just didn’t buy her as an artist who could deliver an uptempo number with unbridled passion. That, or Pia fans got lazy and took the week off from voting, thinking their favorite was safe.

Or is it due to the general voting public favoring the men? Besides Casey Abrams’ near elimination, only female contestants have been voted off since the viewer voting rounds began — Karen Rodriquez, Naima Adedapo, Thia Megia, and now Pia. Are most of the people voting at home rooting for the guys? Not too wild a theory, considering that dudes have taken home the Idol crown the last three years in a row.

Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart: as the final two girls left in the competition, you’re our last hope for a female winner. You gals better step your game up, and quick!

What did you think of Pia’s elimination? Was it undeserved, or did America get it right?