In a rare crossover between hit shows on different networks, controversial American Idol evictee Pia Toscano appeared as the headline act on ABC's Dancing with the Stars tonight.
Fox obviously know they've been forced to let a star slip through their fingers as they asked Toscano, 22, to open Thursday night's Idol show with others who had been eliminated.
But Dancing with the Stars gave the New Yorker top billing tonight, ahead of popular classic acts Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block, who appeared together.
Toscano was also allowed to have rumoured boyfriend Mark Ballas, 26 , dance beside her as she belted out a tune by Chrissie Hynde's Pretenders.
Indeed, the supposed couple seemed to want to address the rumours definitively by making their first appearance together before an advertising break.
Ballas protectively clamped the beauty to him, clutching her nude skintight dress - notably not reaching out in the same way to dancer Karina Sminoff, who also performed with them, and was standing to his left as he held Pia on the right.
He and Smirnoff danced while Toscano belted out The Pretenders classic, I'll Stand By You, appropriate considering the cosy set-up, though I'll twirl by you would've been more precise.
Presenter Tom Bergeron congratulated Toscano after the ballad and said that from their side of 'the corridor,' they couldn't understand why she'd been voted off Idol.
He then said he'd been asking to find out if she was dating Ballas but that he wouldn't go there, so instead enquired as to whether or not the pro-dancer is a good kisser, Toscano replied with a beaming smile: 'He is a wonderful person.'
Also grinning despite being eliminated from the show was wrestler Chris Jericho, who left only one night after landing in last place on the smash hit show.
'It's actually good timing that I got eliminated because I have to fly over to England for the royal wedding,' Jericho joked after learning his fate tonight.
He and his professional dance partner, Cheryl Burke, collected 22 points out of 30 on Monday for a tango that one judge described as 'cold, uneventful and a bit lumpy.'
Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes to determine which celebrity is eliminated each week.
'Let's be honest: It wasn't my best dance, and at this point in the competition, you have to be your best every week or this is what happens,' Jericho said.
He added: 'I'm proud of all the dances we did and I'm proud to show that a WWE guy and a rock 'n' roll singer can go this far and do this.'
Burke told her partner he exceeded her expectations every week
'You've turned into an amazing dancer and an amazing friend,' she said.
Jericho joins previously eliminated contestants Sugar Ray Leonard, Wendy Williams, Mike Catherwood and Petra Nemcova.
Tonight's episode also featured that performance by New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, and was opened by Hanson.
The boy turned man bands sang new tune together, Don't Turn Out the Lights, and their individual hits Step By Step and I Want It That Way.
Returning to perform two dances next week will be remaining contestants Hines Ward, Kirstie Alley - who was praised for confidence in her sexuality - Chelsea Kane, Kendra Wilkinson, Ralph Macchio and Romeo.
No comments:
Post a Comment