Hawai'i calls keep Jasmine on 'Idol'
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Behind a surge of calls from Hawai'i for Jasmine Trias, the Maryknoll High School senior last night advanced for another week to become one of the seven surviving "American Idol" finalists.
Hawai'i voted big-time Wednesday night, logging 3.8 million calls, the highest since "Idol" voting began for the 12 finalists a month ago.
The surge enabled Trias, of Mililani, to move to the next round and make poi out of judge Simon Cowell's "you're-too-young" issue.
Jon Peter Lewis, the "pen salesman," was voted off after he, John Stevens and Diana DeGarmo received the least votes of the final eight.
The question of Trias' youth — at 17, she is one of four finalists under 20 — was raised a few times during Wednesday's sing-out, which was pushed back a day because of President Bush's Tuesday speech during prime time.
In the end, the performance-night switch didn't seem to hamper Trias loyalists or voting, with more than 24 million votes cast nationwide.
Trias' hefty statewide support came a week after Hawai'i's other "Idol" finalist, Camile Velasco, 18, of Haiku, Maui, was eliminated. During that show, the unthinkable happened: The Hawai'i pair were the two bottom vote-getters.
But not last night.
Verizon Hawai'i reported the phone record topped the previous high of 2.7 million for the March 17 show, when the winnowing of finalists began.
There was no breakdown of calls per island, so there's no way to tell whether Velasco's strong Maui support has swung to Trias. But you get the feeling it has.
As for last night's bottom vote-getters, DeGarmo and Stevens also fell victim to Cowell's you're-too-young critique.
DeGarmo was spared before the final verdict, leaving Lewis and Stevens side by side. When the ax fell on the popular Lewis, they hugged.
Lewis then reprised his Elvis Presley rock-out "Jailhouse Rock," and frolicked on stage and into the audience, converting the studio into a cellblock of gleeful camaraderie. It was his best "American Idol" performance, an exit exhibiting more joy than pain, and no tears — a sweet storybook ending for a likeable candidate.
Stevens, however, rejoined the survivors on the bleachers with a stunned look of confusion. Could he be next?
"The phones were always busy," said Kathy Yoro, watching the results show yesterday at Eastside Grill. "I tried for two hours ... and got in only two votes. I love LaToya (London), but I pretty much will give my vote to Jasmine as long as she's competing."
Cookie Kawelo, also checking out the show at Eastside Grill, said the busy signals prevailed in her frustrating effort to vote for Trias. "She's good, so I'll keep trying every week, and I'm glad she survived," Kawelo said.
Trias and her family were in seclusion last night and unavailable for comment.
She and the other six remaining contestants have been spending time this week with Barry Manilow, whose music will be performed next Tuesday, when the singer will be a guest judge.
To judge the worst of "American Idol," tune into Fox at 7 p.m. Monday for a rebroadcast of "American Idol: Uncut, Uncensored & Untalented."
Yes, it's another chance to view William Hung's "She Bangs" performance.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
