Warning! The following contains spoilers for the American Idol Season 19 episode that aired Monday, April 12. Read at your own risk!
American Idol kicked off Season 19's live shows, and as always, it was an eventful evening loaded with excitement, surprises, and unexpected moments. Honestly, this night may have been a little wilder than past seasons, as viewers got hit with quite a few big news items right out the gate.
Wyatt Pike is out of American Idol, for example. On the heels of the first live episode, here are the major questions I have before Season 19 goes any further.
What Happened To Wyatt Pike?
Ryan Seacrest announced at the top of American Idol that Wyatt Pike left the competition, which was quite a shock to viewers. The show didn't explain exactly why Pike was eliminated though speculation online has pointed to his Instagram, which showed he visited his hometown just five days ago. An official statement from a rep of the show (obtained by People) said Pike left the competition for "personal reasons," which may be why he hasn't hopped on social media to explain to folks what's up. Hopefully, answers may come down the road.
Why Did Paula Abdul Call Simon Cowell An STD?
American Idol created a brilliant moment when Ryan Seacrest got ahold of Randy Jackson on FaceTime for a reunion with Paula Abdul, but things quickly went south not long into the segment. Abdul told Seacrest the reunion was great, but they needed the "STD" to really complete the reunion. An uncomfortable silence fell over the studio, and Seacrest tried to get out of the segment as quickly as possible while Abdul quickly tried to think of another acronym beyond the obvious that described her former co-worker Simon Cowell. She was unsuccessful, and while both may get an earful from ABC about it, this was by far my favorite moment of Season 19 to date.
When Will Luke Bryan Return?
It was a treat to see Paula Abdul return to American Idol, but I think it's more than fair to say Luke Bryan's absence was felt in the first live show of Season 19. The country acts didn't get many notes from the judges, and Bryan's somewhat blunt honesty was replaced by even more vague compliments Abdul added on to ones already given by Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. To make a long story short, Bryan can't come back soon enough, though with a COVID diagnosis and Idol in its live shows, it may be a couple of weeks at least before he can appear in the studio again.
American Idol airs on ABC Sundays and Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Speaking of Paula Abdul, be sure to read up on what she had to say when Katy Perry got her big payday for appearing on the show.
