Author: Fred Bronson

Frank Micelotta / FOX

Jessica Meuse and Dexter Roberts

Some 500 people got to enjoy American Idol ’80s week in all its fluorescent glory from inside the Idol-dome. Among those in the audience: yours truly who returns with this report on the six things you didn’t see on TV…

•American Idol

1. Before any of the contestants performed their ’80s selections, the audience sang — in unison. Their song choice? A classic that is over 100 years old: “Happy Birthday to You.” It was sung to C. J. Harris’ mother, Stephanie, who was indeed celebrating a birthday on April 9. Asked if he had plans to celebrate his mother’s birthday, C. J. told THR: “I’m going to take her to the Grove to get something to eat.” Had he picked the restaurant yet? “Wherever she wants to go,” he smiled”

2. There’s nothing unusual about the judges and host Ryan Seacrest taking selfies; it happens every show. But Wednesday night, Keith Urban amped up the process, taking lots of photos with members of the audience. The problem seemed to be that once he said yes to one fan, everyone surrounding that person wanted their own selfie with the country superstar.

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 13: Fresh Faces, ‘Harsh’ Harry Connick, Jr. and Jennifer Lopez’s Return

3. Even when the contestants are seated in the lounge area on the far left side of the studio (that’s stage left), they are still close enough to the audience to pick out individuals. Dexter Roberts had a long-distance conversation with his girlfriend, Savannah Coker, and her mother, Tami Coker, as the two women were seated in the audience. Later on, Alex Preston posed for a photo taken from the audience by two family friends.

4. Just as Jessica Meuse was about to duet with Dexter, Harry Connick, Jr. gave Keith Urban a signal and both judges jumped out of their chairs and raced to the third (and top) level of the set, where they joined audience members to watch the two contestants sing. It’s not a short walk, so in order to be up there in time, Connick, Jr. and Urban really had to run. When the duet ended, the two men took their time returning to the stage, hugging audience members as they walked, as the urgency had passed.

STORY: ‘American Idol’: Keith Urban on Season 13’s Inconsistency and Country Music Appeal

5. Coming out of breaks, director Louis Horvitz rolls video of the contestants speaking about their performances. Those videos are shot just seconds earlier, with contestants leaping up from their couches in the lounge to run to a spot just by the elephant doors where the crew and production staff enter.

6. Although he was a big presence in the show, season seven winner David Cook was not actually in the studio. Serving as this week’s mentor, Cook spent Monday with the top eight (all of whom were not alive in the ’80s) and then took a red-eye flight back to Nashville, where he’s recording a new album.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Michael Becker/FOX

There was an American Idol reunion on Thursday night’s results show as three alumnae from three different seasons were together again for the first time. Allison Iraheta, Pia Toscano and Jessica Sanchez provided backing vocals and extraordinary harmony for Jennifer Lopez’ performance of her new single, “I Luh Ya Papi.” And it all began with a DM from J. Lo to season 11 runner-up Sanchez.

“She DMed me on Twitter, which was pretty insane,” Sanchez told The Hollywood Reporter right after Thursday’s live show. “I thought, oh my gosh, J. Lo is DMing me!” Voicemails and texts to Iraheta and Toscano invited them to join Sanchez at Lopez’ home two weeks ago to begin rehearsals.

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 13: Meet the Top 10 Singers

“She taught us the harmonies and then we learned a little choreography,” says Sanchez. “Yeah, how to do the nae nae,” Iraheta interjected. “It was so amazing talking with Jennifer and getting all this advice from her,” says Toscano. “It meant so much to me because this industry is no picnic and you need someone like her to say, ‘You know how many doors were slammed in my face? You can’t let it discourage you.’ I left the house and thought wow, this is why I do what I do. And had I not been on Idol I wouldn’t have gotten this call.”

It wasn’t just working with Lopez that allowed the three Idols to enjoy the work so much. “When I found out I’d be with these two, it was very special,” says Toscano. “Our voices really compliment each other, which doesn’t happen often. Jessica has this incredible middle alto and Allison has this whole low, raspy voice.” “And Pia has a range of seven billion octaves!,” Iraheta exclaimed.

While this was the first time these three finalists have sung together, they have known each other for some time – and not from American Idol. “I went to pop camp with Jessica when she was 12 and I was 14,” says Iraheta. “She murdered the stage every day.”

STORY: ‘American Idol’ Season 13: Get to Know the Top 10 Singers

“Before I auditioned for Idol, I was obsessed with Allison,” says Toscano. “And I’ve been following Jessica since she was a little bitty thing. I saw her on America’s Got Talent when she sang ‘I Surrender.’ It was the best thing ever.”

Toscano, Sanchez and Iraheta (who is working this season as a backing vocalist in Rickey Minor’s band) have clearly formed a mutual admiration society. Time will tell if they will also form a three-woman singing group, perhaps a side project in the style of Miranda Lambert’s Pistol Annies. Asked about the possibility, the three Idols didn’t say yes. But they didn’t say no, either.

Twitter: @FredBronson, @Idol_Worship           

Michael Becker / Fox

After her elimination from American Idol, MK Nobilette’s first stop outside of Stage 36 at CBS Televison City was the press tent just outside the large building that houses the Idol set. Before she had a chance to speak with her family or check her cellphone for messages, she sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss her exit.

As she walked into the tent, Nobilette had a big smile on her face. She raised her hands above her head, like a champion. It was clear she was in an ebullient mood. “I’m feeling great,” she confirmed. “I’m proud of myself for making it this far and I’m really positive. I didn’t think I’d be this positive, but I am. I’ve done this amazing thing that millions of people don’t get the chance to do.”

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 13: Fresh Faces, ‘Harsh’ Harry Connick, Jr. and Jennifer Lopez’s Return

Asked what she would miss the most about not being a part of the competition, the San Francisco native replied, “The hardest part of leaving is not being able to hang out with these amazing musicians. They’re wonderful people and I’m going to miss them.”

Nobilette was candid about her thoughts over the 24 hours preceding Ryan Seacrest’s declaration that she was gong to have to sing for the judges’ save. “I definitely thought I would go home because of the [Wednesday] performance. It was not the best. I think t was good until I messed up. I’m a musician and every single musician who has ever sung anywhere has messed up once. I’m not going to stop.”

STORY: ‘American Idol’ Alum Didi Benami Causes ‘Trouble’ in New Video

In fact, Nobilette is already thinking ahead to her future. “After the tour I want to make an album and have it do well and go on tour again with my own band. I don’t know what genre my first album will be but it will have a lot of horns and some funky stuff to jam to.”

While the judges did not save her, Nobilette bviously bears the panel no ill will. Asked what the most valuable lesson she learned during her tenure on Idol, she answered, “One of the most important things I learned was when Harry [Connick, Jr.] said I didn’t want to be there. It hit me hard — in a very good way. I’m always going to ask myself, do you want to be here and I’m going to prove that I want to be here every time I go on stage. That’s the best thing that’s ever happened.”

Twitter: @Idol_Worship