Nigel Lythgoe on 'American Idol's' shocking elimination: 'It's not about the judges' opinion'

Why are people shocked? Pia had zero personality. Singing can only get you far. And it's not about her being a woman. Carrie Underwood had a big voice, too. And she is a woman. But he had CHARISMA and PERSONALITY. Duh.

I knew this was going to happen this season. Thats why I didn't even bother watching. It's not about who can sing, the largest demographic that this show even aims for are preteens and teenage girls. It's not about singing, it is a popularity contest and who the little girls think is hot. Idol has lost all respectability amongst anyone who has a brain.

Yes I did vote for Pia and did about 50x since I knew a girl would be going home again. Even my sister voted for Pia - so exactly what happened?!? The young girls have turned this show into a cute boy contest. Either the judging needs to be 50/50 as others have stated or make it where the bottom boy and girl goes home to level the playing field. Pia had amazing solid singing talent but her growth while in the competition was audience performance which to me comes with each performance in front of an audience. Exactly what I originally thought the intention of AI. Some of the other contestants had previous spotty performances and not everyone was spot on. Lets be truthful folks! I don't care if she sang ballads each week, just sing it in pitch and show range. Kelly and Carrie sang ballads, but were their albums ballads. When Simon left, I knew it was over for AI. However I gave the show a chance. Jennifer and Steven are pleasantly surprising me however as each week goes by, I am waiting for one of them to step up and provide critique to each contestant along with the accolades. Critique is needed for the performers to grow and give the voice of reason to try and penetrate the thick skulls of the teenyboppers. Maybe it is hopeless and unfortunately I do care since I have been watching this show for 10 years and want to see the best performer be rewarded. So in having control of the situation -- AI is off my DVR and if I am home, there is not a Phillies game on or something else on of interest, maybe I will watch it. So when is XFactor starting so I can set my DVR!!

The judges are not to blame for Pia leaving the competition.
For whatever reason - Pia did not get enough votes to stay. She did not have enough people who were willing to vote for her to keep her in it. End of story.
I think that the Judges' 'outrage' over her leaving and Jennifer Lopez glowering through most of the show (proof to me that they do know the results beforehand) was uncalled for and unprofessional. What are the rest of the contestants? Chopped liver? Pia should stay and someone else who got the popular votes deserves to go? Who? Stefano or Casey? Both are still in the competition because of Judge saves. The Judges did a good job picking the finalists -- and its made for good drama - going from the top 10 to 13 instead of 12, having 11 people on the tour instead of 10 - but the rubber had to hit the road sometime.

Pia was not a male, so didn't get the vote of the prepubescent girls who vote 5 trillion times for the cute boy.

I did not like pia's singing.I really don't know why. Sure she sang good but there was just something about her singing that was just not good enough for my ears.

come on everyone... this is the best group of finalists Idol has ever seen and one by one we will all be outraged when our favorite gets voted off... which they will, week by week, ALL OF THEM but one. So if it didn't happen this week, it might have been next. quit griping. Pia will do just fine in the long run. however, my personal opinion is that she just had no stage presence for performing and exciting the crowd. No movement, no flirting with the audience, just boring beauty pageant singing, with an incredible voice I might add. But, you have to have the something extra, and the others have it.... having FUN with the audience... people will pay for that.

Nigel you are the producer... so you'd better have a little more to say! Change the voting system... right away. People are pissed and you'd better do something before the backlash fires you for ruining all the Judges hard work... Do you really think that J Lo will sign on for another year of this nonsense! Where the best contestant... far and away the best contestant is sent home because people should have voted more times for Pia. I'm not buying it.... neither are the sane folks who enjoy seeing great talent win in the end... people that can actually afford to buy those 'Fords' and will buy an album by a true winner!

I agree with the writer. The judges are being way too nice this season and they compliment the contestants week after week even if they give just an average performance. Even when they critique, they're not saying what needs to be said. That's what was great about Simon - when a contestant had an off performance, he told them. When they weren't bringing their A-game, he told them.

And Nigel is wrong - if the judges aren't there to provide some guidance as to who's the best of the night and who America should vote for, then why are they even there? Let's just have the contestants sing and then be done with it. If they're going to judge, then don't tell me every single week that someone like Scotty or Paul is great every time when they're obviously not.

Until Idol goes to one vote per phone, we will continue to see a skewed contest in favor of guys. Nigel will refuse to make changes until people stop watching, so if you want them to change the voting system, stop watching the show. No one really knows the real reason why Pia was voted off, but I would take your pick from over-confident fan base, tweeners and teenage girls mass voting, and probably a couple other reasons. What puzzles me is that Pia was 3rd on Dial Idol, which makes me believe it has more to do with texting and online voting then anything.