Casey Abrams delivers a jazzy Nat King Cole tune, while Stefano Langone hopes it isn’t the end of the road for him on ‘Idol.’ By Eric Ditzian Haley Reinhart performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: Fox She’s gone but not forgotten. The ghost of Pia Toscano was everywhere on Wednesday’s (April 13) “American Idol,” from an opening montage reminding viewers that “every vote counts,” to a poster in the audience that read “I miss Pia” to the mentors’ many invocations of the eliminated finalist’s name. But Pia, alas, is gone and the show, as they say in Hollywood, must go on — in this case to Tinseltown itself. The theme was songs of the cinema , and like last week, we got a show with no bombs and a few blockbusters. Paul McDonald kicked things off with Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” from “Risky Business.” Unlike Tom Cruise in that classic ’80s flick, however, Paul didn’t perform the song in his underwear, a tactic that would likely have assured the guy a spot in the finals. Nonetheless, he kicked the show off in style, a high-energy performance in which he ditched his guitar and sashayed around the stage but didn’t succumb to the silly dance moves we’ve seen from him in the past. The judges loved his rose-embroidered suit, loved his sax player, but more than anything else, they loved his energy. “I love your crazy, wild abandon,” said Steven Tyler, while Randy argued America had just witnessed the opening number at a forthcoming McDonald concert. Next up was Lauren Alaina, whom mentor Jimmy Iovine dubbed not only a better singer than Miley Cyrus but one capable of burying the Disney starlet’s own rendition of “The Climb.” What’s more, Jimmy delivered a message to all of the viewers at home: Lauren’s the contestant who deserves to gobble up Pia’s voting bloc. Her ballad would certainly appeal to fans of the departed singer, though Lauren’s tune was hardly as pitch-perfect as previous Pia songs. What Lauren delivered was a performance that was, in terms of emotion and comfort level on the stage, far superior to anything Pia had delivered. “I love the tear you have in your voice. It’s a cry. It’s something that really transmits,” Jennifer Lopez said. “You sang it so beautifully, so beautifully. You don’t need to steal anybody’s votes. You’re getting your own.” It remains to be seen just how many votes of his own Stefano Langone will be getting. But during his cover of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road,” he made a serious bid to attract enough support to stay safe for another week. He started off weakly, his vocals seemingly not up to the task of nailing the song’s high notes. Yet as the music built, Stefano stepped up, letting loose vocally and showing more artistry than we’ve perhaps ever seen from him. Predicting what Boyz II Men would soon tell him, Jackson said, “Your man Stefano just slayed the song.” The other judges agreed. “This is so not the end of the road for you,” Tyler said. “This is the beginning.” The same could be said of Scotty McCreery, who can do no wrong in the judges’ eyes nor, it appears, in those of the public. The 17-year-old suggested he was going back to his country roots with George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart,” as if he’d ever strayed far from them. Call it returning to his strengths or continuing to exploit them — whatever the case, Scotty once again busted out a mature performance that could become a hit on country radio tomorrow. He even took a few more vocal risks than usual, including a sustained note at the finale that was easily three times longer than any other he’d belted out all season. “Everybody wants us to be tough with you guys, but the truth is y’all are so damn good,” Lopez said. “All I really want to say is wow. That was really good.” Jackson seconded that assessment, and raised her one. “Look at this guy right here,” he said. “A star is born on this stage.” Casey Abrams, rocking an ascot and a severely trimmed beard, followed Scotty onto the stage. He was unsure if should sing Phil Collins or Nat King Cole, but ultimately went with a slow and jazzy take on Cole’s “Nature Boy” that allowed him to whisper and growl and scat and, of course, slap some on the bass. The judges certainly thought Casey made the right choice. They praised his artistry and the educational value of his music, comparing him to Norah Jones, Michael Bubl
