… Karen Rodriguez. The New York singer survived placement in the bottom three a week ago, but could not do so again tonight, as she became the second finalist eliminated on season 10 of American Idol . “It’s like I’ve been on this journey for such a long time now, and this is my last opportunity,” Rodriguez said prior to singing Mariah Carey’s “Hero” in an attempt to remain on the show.. “I’m trying not to cry.” Haley Reinhart and Naima Adedapo rounded out the bottom trio. Think viewers eliminated the right contestant?
Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart join her in the bottom three, while Black Eyed Peas and Lee DeWyze perform. By Adam Graham Karen Rodriguez Photo: FOX “Love Will Lead You Back” paved a path straight to elimination for Karen Rodriguez, who was shown the door on Thursday’s (March 17) elimination episode of “American Idol.” The 21-year-old bilingual-singing New Yorker, who was praised by Steven Tyler for her “ethnic what-it-is-ness” on Wednesday’s performance episode , pleaded her case before the judges when asking them to use the season’s one save to spare her another week. “I know I can do so much better, and I know you guys believe in me,” she said, fighting back tears, after a Hail Mary rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” But it wasn’t enough: While Randy Jackson said the decision was not unanimous, the judges decided not to let Rodriguez sing another day in the competition. It was Rodriguez’s second straight trip to the bottom three, real estate she shared this week with Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart. Adedapo was the first to be shown mercy by host Ryan Seacrest, leaving Reinhart and Rodriguez behind to face the music. Ultimately it was Rodriguez — who performed Taylor Dayne’s 1990 hit “Love Will Lead You Back” on Wednesday’s show, while wearing a sci-fi silver miniskirt and a Snooki-like pouf atop her head — that came up on the short end of America’s votes. During the teary goodbye, Rodriguez was consoled by the three judges, as well as her fellow contestants. When they were sent to the bottom three earlier in the show, neither Reinhart nor Adedapo seemed very surprised with their fates. Reinhart, who in a winding speech explained that she ultimately sees herself combining “rock and funk and blues” into one style (note: she sang Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight” this week), gave a sighing “yippee!” when Seacrest told her she might be in the bottom three. Later, she mock dusted off her chair before sitting down in the same seat she held the week prior. Adedapo, who mouthed “wonder who?” when she was told it was either her or the week-winning Stefano Langone in the bottom three, practically marched to her seat before Seacrest even read the results. Call it the curse of the ladies: So far this season, a male has yet to land in the bottom of the bunch. Thia Megia thought she was going to see the wrath of the bottom three and explained to the judges that she’s got more in her than she’s shown thus far. “If you guys put me through, I’ll do so much better,” she said. “I can show so much more.” She survived another week, but she should be held to her promise to step things up a notch beyond the bland balladry she’s shown to date. Everyone else was safe to sit back and watch the show, which squeezed in performances by the Black Eyed Peas (who dedicated their new single “Just Can’t Get Enough” to “our friends in Japan”) and “American Idol” season-nine winner Lee DeWyze, who performed the sleepy, John Mayer-like ballad “Beautiful Like You” from his album Live It Up. The show opened with a medley of Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild” (sang by the guys) and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” (the girls), a cheeky homage to the week’s songs-from-your-birth-year theme. Were you surprised to see Karen go? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart join her in the bottom three, while Black Eyed Peas and Lee DeWyze perform. By Adam Graham Karen Rodriguez Photo: FOX “Love Will Lead You Back” paved a path straight to elimination for Karen Rodriguez, who was shown the door on Thursday’s (March 17) elimination episode of “American Idol.” The 21-year-old bilingual-singing New Yorker, who was praised by Steven Tyler for her “ethnic what-it-is-ness” on Wednesday’s performance episode , pleaded her case before the judges when asking them to use the season’s one save to spare her another week. “I know I can do so much better, and I know you guys believe in me,” she said, fighting back tears, after a Hail Mary rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” But it wasn’t enough: While Randy Jackson said the decision was not unanimous, the judges decided not to let Rodriguez sing another day in the competition. It was Rodriguez’s second straight trip to the bottom three, real estate she shared this week with Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart. Adedapo was the first to be shown mercy by host Ryan Seacrest, leaving Reinhart and Rodriguez behind to face the music. Ultimately it was Rodriguez — who performed Taylor Dayne’s 1990 hit “Love Will Lead You Back” on Wednesday’s show, while wearing a sci-fi silver miniskirt and a Snooki-like pouf atop her head — that came up on the short end of America’s votes. During the teary goodbye, Rodriguez was consoled by the three judges, as well as her fellow contestants. When they were sent to the bottom three earlier in the show, neither Reinhart nor Adedapo seemed very surprised with their fates. Reinhart, who in a winding speech explained that she ultimately sees herself combining “rock and funk and blues” into one style (note: she sang Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight” this week), gave a sighing “yippee!” when Seacrest told her she might be in the bottom three. Later, she mock dusted off her chair before sitting down in the same seat she held the week prior. Adedapo, who mouthed “wonder who?” when she was told it was either her or the week-winning Stefano Langone in the bottom three, practically marched to her seat before Seacrest even read the results. Call it the curse of the ladies: So far this season, a male has yet to land in the bottom of the bunch. Thia Megia thought she was going to see the wrath of the bottom three and explained to the judges that she’s got more in her than she’s shown thus far. “If you guys put me through, I’ll do so much better,” she said. “I can show so much more.” She survived another week, but she should be held to her promise to step things up a notch beyond the bland balladry she’s shown to date. Everyone else was safe to sit back and watch the show, which squeezed in performances by the Black Eyed Peas (who dedicated their new single “Just Can’t Get Enough” to “our friends in Japan”) and “American Idol” season-nine winner Lee DeWyze, who performed the sleepy, John Mayer-like ballad “Beautiful Like You” from his album Live It Up. The show opened with a medley of Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild” (sang by the guys) and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” (the girls), a cheeky homage to the week’s songs-from-your-birth-year theme. Were you surprised to see Karen go? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
American Idol ‘s Top 13 collapsed into a Top 12 last night, as the first of the finalists was voted out of the competition. Was it Blubbermaster Blubberer Jacob Lusk? Was it Selena non-threat Karen Rodriguez? What about Haley Reinhart, who has unfeeling opals for eyes? Remember the loser after the jump. Spoiler ahead!
The top 13 on American Idol take to the stage for the first time as a group tonight. Will Pia Toscano deliver another memorable ballad? Will James Durbin earn a new set of hard rock fans? Will we be able to comprehend a word out of Steven Tyler’s mouth? Below, The Pulse previews this season’s finalists and then we list the set of singles that will be covered by these aspiring artists tonight. (Remember to visit THG first thing tomorrow morning for a video rundown of the best performances!) The Pulse: American Idol Finalists Edition Lauren Alaina : “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain Casey Abrams : “With a Little Help From My Friends” by Joe Cocker Ashton Jones : “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” by Diana Ross Paul McDonald : “Come Pick Me Up” by Ryan Adams Pia Toscano : “All By Myself” by Celine Dion James Durbin : “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney Haley Reinhart : “Blue” by LeAnn Rimes Jacob Lusk : “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly Thia Megia : “Smile” by Michael Jackson Stefano Langone : “Lately” by Stevie Wonder Karen Rodriguez : “I Could Fall in Love” by Selena Scotty McCreery : “The River” by Garth Brooks Naima Adedapo : “Umbrella” by Rihanna
Judge laments that ‘a lot of kids [went] home who deserved to be there.’ By Kara Warner “American Idol” season 10 top 13 at the top 13 after-party Photo: FOX The first elimination show of the new season of “American Idol” has come and gone in history-making fashion. Host Ryan Seacrest announced on the show Thursday (Mar 3) that around 40 million votes were cast, narrowing the field of 24 hopefuls to 10 contestants, the biggest cuts in the show’s history. Three more wild card contestants sang for their lives and were later added by judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson to make a top 13. When MTV News caught up with the involved parties at Fox’s afterparty to celebrate the “Idol” finalists, there were feelings of relief, joy and, for one judge, discomfort. “Ugh. It was awful!” Lopez said of the deliberation that went on between the judges to select the three wild cards at the end of the show. “It was so tough. It was so hard, even up until the very last second. It was like, wait a minute, we really didn’t know who to choose at the last minute. It could have gone any way. Even when we did it, when we announced it, we were like, ‘Did we do the right thing?’ I don’t know.” Lopez went on to say that there was not really a right or wrong with so many talented contestants in the mix this year. “[We] were going to send somebody home that maybe deserved to be there,” she said. “Probably a lot of kids [went] home who deserved to be there.” Stefano Langone snagged one of the lucky three wild card spots with his rendition of Smokie Norful’s “I Need You Now,” a decision he said he made for several reasons. “I knew if it got to the point where I had to sing for the wild card, that I’d be singing for my life,” Langone explained. “I needed a song that I’d done prior to this point that was the absolute perfect song for my voice, to show my soul, everything that I have, everything I could bring to the table as a musician.” Despite the anxiety involved in singing for his life, Langone said it was a great experience. “I had to work for that spot. I had to work to where I wanted to be, and I feel really blessed to have gotten that. I’m so thankful and honored and blessed. It’s a dream.” Fellow wild-card winner Naima Adedapo felt the same way about her song choice, Donny Hathaway’s “For All We Know.” “It really talks about what I wanted to talk about,” she said. “That is, ‘Love me tonight. I need you to put me through tonight. Let me show you who I am.’ ” Adedapo added that hearing her name called as part of the top 13 had her almost floating on air. “Words can’t really express it, but it’s like a high,” she said. “It’s like being elevated somewhere. I feel like I wasn’t even on earth anymore, I just kind of was happy and in the moment. I felt like I had an opportunity to really show them how much I really want it.” Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursdays on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With MTV News’ Jim Cantiello Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Top 24 Related Artists Jennifer Lopez
… and then were a baker’s dozen. American Idol revealed its 13 finalists tonight, with five men and five women chosen by the viewers, and the final trio of wild card spots selected by the judges. Did your favorite make it? Find out now: Scotty McCreery Lauren Alaina Pia Toscano Karen Rodriguez Jacob Lusk Casey Abrams Haley Reinhart James Durbin Thia Megia Paul McDonald Naima Adedapo Ashthon Jones Stefano Langone
A night after the American Idol men took the stage, and THG live blogged the impressive vocals of Jacob Lusk and company, we’re back! As the top 12 women sing for your vote, join in below with comments, refresh often for updates and let’s see how the female fare… 8:03 The crowd seems especially jazzed for the judges. It can’t be due to J. Lo’s sparkly one-shoulder monstrosity of a top, though. 8:04 Wow. We’re going straight from 24 to 10. Five men. Five women. Tomorrow night’s results show? Gonna be tense. 8:07 Ta-Tynisa Wilson kicks us off with Rihanna’s “Ony Girl (In The World).” Certainly takes confidence to go with this sexy single. Ouch . She sounds very much off key, struggling to hold the final note. Steven and Jennifer simply say she did a “good job,” but neither says it very convincingly. Randy “didn’t quite get it” and J. Lo cuts him off again. 8:15 Naima Adedapo designed her own dress. That’s pretty cool. Going with “Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald, Adedapo moves well on stage, smiling and engaging the audience. J. Lo goes first this time, calling her an “exotic flower in a rose garden.” Steven says he takes Adedapo “personally,” which sounds like an insult. But he means it nicely. 8:19 Talk about setting the bar high: Kendra Chantelle chooses “Impossible” by Christina Aguilera, while I refrain from making a joke about whether she got wasted prior to the performance. Randy starts with an apt Lauryn Hill reference. The judges are really into the comparisons with other singers this season, aren’t they? J. Lo finds it “amazing.” We mostly agree. Definitely one to watch. 8:27 Rachel Zevita sheds a witch-like cape prior to getting into Fiona Apple’s “Criminal.” She’s trying a bit too hard to come across as edgy, sauntering down behind the judges’ table and remaining deadly serious. Steven says it’s “too Broadway” for him and then remains silent when Zevita that’s the only genre she’s never sung. J. Lo thinks it was the wrong choice, Randy straight up says: “it wasn’t good.” 8:31 Karen Rodriguez breaks into Spanish for Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” Interesting choice. Would I be considered cynical if I said it comes across as pandering? Let’s hear the judges’ take: a series of “wows” from J. Lo. Randy is right that she made the song her own, while Steven sees her as “one of a kind” and we learn that Karen and Lusk are BFFs. 8:40 It’s time for Lauren Turner. She breaks out an Etta James classic, “Seven Day Fool,” which draws vigorous nodding from Randy. Fun song choice, fun performance. We get another comparison: Amy Winehouse meets Florence and the Machine. Seems appropriate. Very solid all around. 8:49 Ashthon Jones sings “Love Over Me” by Monica while wearing the largest ring in Idol history. All three judges love it, praising her look, confidence and sound. She’s Diana Ross, Randy screams out. 8:58 Julie Zorrilla takes a major chance, covering a single by the original champion, Kelly Clarkson. Can the Eva Mendes-lookalike do justice to “Breakaway?” Not really, according to J. Lo, who questions the sincerity of Zorrilla wanting to break away. Once again, Randy says a contestant didn’t bring anything original to the rendition. We’ve gotta agree. 9:01 We hear again how Haley Reinhart wants to be a “visionary” all over the world. Lofty goal, followed by a high bar: “Fallin'” by Alicia Keys. Steven and J. Lo loved it, but we’re with Randy: you need to really mix up such a classic song or else you’ll be compared to the incredible original. 9:10 Thia Megia takes the opposite approach, going with a song from Fame: “Out Here On My Own.” It’s strong, simple, quiet, nothing showy. Steven gushes over her perfect pitch, while J. Lo and Randy also loved it, although the latter goes overboard with the latest comparison: Michael Jackson. 9:14 It’s time to go country with Lauren Alaina . Like Reba McEntire before, Lauren wants us to “Turn on the Radio,” clearly having fun with the performance. The judges are full of praise and we’re on board the Alaina train, despite the odd reference to Ryan as “Peaches.”
American Idol dished two hours of giddy theatrics last night: We started with an hour of Las Vegas auditions featuring Beatles songs (courtesy of the Cirque du Soleil rollerblading clown show Love ) and concluded with sixty minutes of the judges’ first Top 24 invitees. BREAKING : I loved American Idol this Wednesday. Let’s break it all down in the wrong order: We’ll start by discussing the five declared entrants into the Top 24 and conclude with our (my) feelings about the remaining hopefuls. EXCLUSIVE : Still don’t trust Robbie Rosen.
American Idol dished two hours of giddy theatrics last night: We started with an hour of Las Vegas auditions featuring Beatles songs (courtesy of the Cirque du Soleil rollerblading clown show Love ) and concluded with sixty minutes of the judges’ first Top 24 invitees. BREAKING : I loved American Idol this Wednesday. Let’s break it all down in the wrong order: We’ll start by discussing the five declared entrants into the Top 24 and conclude with our (my) feelings about the remaining hopefuls. EXCLUSIVE : Still don’t trust Robbie Rosen.
