"American Idol" Axes Leggy Finalist

(AP)  She's got legs — and she knew how to use them.

But Wednesday night, the magic finally ran out for Haley Scarnato on "American Idol."

(Yes, that means the Sanjaya phenomenon continues.)

The departure of Scarnato, 24, of San Antonio, trimmed the number of finalists to seven. The winner will be chosen in May.

Simon Cowell suggested on Tuesday's program that Scarnato was using her curve-hugging, leg-baring attire as a "tactic" to stay in the competition.

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Photos: Haley Scarnato: She's Got Legs!

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"I'm not gonna wear anything ... that's completely inappropriate," a jeans-clad Scarnato countered Wednesday.

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Photos: "American Idol" Season 6

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Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson had the next-lowest vote tallies in the phone balloting, which drew more than 35 million calls and text messages.

Stacey, 29, of Jacksonville, Fla., earned mixed reviews on Tuesday for his performance of "Maria Maria," which Cowell derided as flat and unoriginal.

Cowell, however, complimented Richardson, 22, of Chesapeake, Va., for putting a contemporary spin on the Latin-flavored song "Smooth."

Wednesday's program featured performances by rapper Akon and the glamorous Jennifer Lopez, who doled out valuable advice as guest coach.

"I guess I come from the Paula (Abdul) school of criticism. ... Not that we don't need our Simon," Lopez told Ryan Seacrest, who asked for her reaction to the judges' critiques of the finalists.

In its sixth season, "American Idol" continues to rule the ratings. It has attracted 26 million to 37 million viewers per telecast this season.
By Erin Carlson

[samthetvcat]

PS That's not to take anything away from Melinda, LaKisha, Jordin, Blake, Chris - I think they're the whole package . . . just amazing! I'd be happy to see any of them win.

Sanjaya's mustache looked like he drew it in with crayon! lol! Too funny!

[samthetvcat]

I think Simon just said what many of us were thinking - her skirts were getting noticeably shorter and shorter as the competition got fiercer and fiercer . . . they were reaching like Britney Spears crotch-flashing level of heights - it wasn't pretty.

Funny thing about singing - oddly I think Hayley and Phil (especially Phil) have two of the better voices out of the lot just based on natural ability alone, but there's like that other element that J-Lo alluded to - making the connection with the audience which seems to matter more. J-Lo's definitely got that which makes for me the experience more intense. I wonder whether that's something people can work on - if Hayley could improve on that she' wouldn't need to resort to the short skirts.

Conversely, there are some singers who have the talent that they could wear whatever they wanted and have worn whatever they wanted and I'd still buy their records and have still bought their records - like Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey. If Hayley really just likes to wear those kind of clothes as like a form of self-expression and doesn't like the criticism, I think she needs to work on that connecting with the audience aspect and establish herself as somebody with serious talent. Then she can wear whatever she pleases.

[judie65]

Hi,
I want to say that Sanjaya reminds me of Sal Mineo of a few years back. He is also so adaptable, gentle and can sing any style of son. he is also just 17, as is Jordin that everyone continues to mention as just being 17.
Haley is still my husband's and my , even though she got booted off last night. She is far prettier and is an excellent performer. We would go see her perform and I hope she will get asked by some record company to continue her career. Yes she flaunted her legs but her hair and style are so much more outstanding. At least she doesn't flaunt her breasts until they practically fall out of the almost top. So many of the female singers dress so sleezy and it is not a pretty site from our TV. Haley helped to make the show and I could hardly wait for next week to come. Now it is just another show.
Miranda and Blake are in a class all their own and should have to be a tie and both win. Maybe it could be a first!!! Like Jennifer they should not be competing in Idol as they are already outstanding performers and should already be recording and performing on their own.
Thank you for allowing me to give my opinion. I attende pageants for many years and I so enjoy trying to choose the winnwers. I enjoy judging contestants and I am a bit harsh but in a way like Paula. The tone and smile are everything when telling someone they can use improvement or someone else is better this time. Why be like a serpeant and crush someone's heart???
Judy

[fleure-2009]

I thought she should have been more conservative in her clothing, specially during the competition. I liked her outfit last night, too bad she didn't wear it Tuesday night when it really would have counted.