Author: Fred Bronson

Michael Becker / Fox

The top 10 contestants sang Billboard top 10 hits on Wednesday night’s American Idol, so it’s only appropriate to reveal the top 10 things you didn’t see in the studio — or if you were one of the millions of viewers who watched the live performance show at home. Fortunately for you, fellow Idol worshipers, The Hollywood Reporter had eyes inside Stage 36 at CBS Television City in Los Angeles.

1. The lounge on the stage left side of the set is where the finalists sit to observe other finalists sing but they don’t enter the lounge area until they’ve performed. That meant MK Nobilette had to endure a few minutes of extreme loneliness, as she was the only contestant in the lounge while Dexter Roberts sang in second position. We have to admit, Nobilette really did look lonely until Roberts joined her following his rendition of Florida Georgia Line’s mega-hit, “Cruise.”

2. Before the live broadcast began, some observant audience members noticed something under their seats. A gift? No, more like a prop. Beneath every seat was a glow stick and during a commercial break instructions were given: they were to be taken out and given a good crack in order to make them glow during Jena Irene’s performance of Zedd’s “Clarity.”

3. When the audience collectively screams, it’s time to look around the all-encompassing multi-level set and see what or who is causing them to react so hysterically. Tonight, after Jena Irene’s performance, it was the first in-studio sighting of Randy Jackson, though he was outside the studio before the show taking photos with fans near the credentials desk, unaccompanied by screaming.

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

4. After Malaya Watson’s performance, as she took her seat in the lounge, she looked into the audience and saw a man waving at her. She smiled back and waved at her father, professional musician Ron Watson. Since Malaya is a minor, she has to be accompanied during her Idol run by a parent or guardian, and Ron has been sharing those duties with his wife, Marian. Later on, Malaya had eyes on her dad again and they exchanged thumbs up.

5. Before the live show began at 5 p.m. PDT, audience member and top 31 contestant Jillian Jensen confessed to being nervous about boyfriend Alex Preston’s imminent performance. Maybe that’s because he was covering a One Direction hit. But she needn’t have worried. After singing “Story of My Life,” Preston received a loud, extended ovation from the studio audience, the strongest reaction of the evening.

6. As the gaggle of finalists in the lounge grew, the contestants mostly sat while watching their peers perform. But when C. J. Harris took on Hunter Hayes’ “Invisible,” the six competitors rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation.

7. As Ryan Seacrest was signing off, the three judges stood but they didn’t leave. Harry Connick Jr. gave Keith Urban a hug, which led to a round robin of all the judges hugging each other in turn. There were more hugs exchanged in these couple of minutes than all of season 12.

STORY: ‘American Idol’ on the Charts: Phillip Phillips Heats Up Hot 100 with ‘Raging Fire’

8. When the live show ends at 7 p.m., it takes only a few minutes for the members of the audience to exit. But not on Wednesday night. Almost everyone stayed right were they are, as no one wanted to miss Jennifer Lopez perform her new single, “I Luh Ya Papi.” They didn’t want to miss it so much, they waited over an hour for cameras to roll. The performance will be part of the results show on Thursday night.

9. Look for thee former Idol finalists to form an all-star backing chorus for Lopez’ performance. Season eight’s Allison Iraheta, who is singing back-up vocals in Rickey Minor’s band this season, will be joined by two contestants from Lopez’ first turn at being a judge, season 10’s Pia Toscano and season 11’s Jessica Sanchez.

10. Here’s what usually happens on Wednesday nights: when the clock strikes 7, the contestants don’t get a break; they head immediately to the press tent, where they spend about an hour doing interviews with the media. But not on this performance night. Instead, the contestants were on stage, watching Lopez’ performance. And by the time it was over, they were overdue for dinner, leaving the press tent an eerily deserted space.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Michael Becker / Fox

While American Idol fans were curled up on your sofa munching popcorn and enjoying a night at the movies — musically speaking — The Hollywood Reporter was peering behind-the-scenes inside Stage 36 at CBS Television City to see how the movie magic was made. Seven of our on-the-scene observations below…

1. Before every live American Idol show, someone has to warm up the members of the audience — not raise their temperatures but their levels of excitement. The job of pumping up the guests is usually done by Cory Almeida but he was away Wednesday night. In his place was first-timer Mark Provart, who did well for his inaugural turn. That may be because what you didn’t see last week was Provart shadowing Almeida, learning first-hand from the master.

2. In the first quarter-hour of the show, host Ryan Seacrest walked up to the top of the audience bleachers to make the next introduction. He was standing with stage manager Debbie Williams when he suddenly recognized the man sitting in the aisle seat of the topmost row — Simon Fuller, creator and executive producer of American Idol.

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

3. On the next commercial break, following the performance of Jessica Meuse, a special guest took his seat in the audience, and caused an unintentional commotion as all eyes turned to him. The very recognizable guest was Gordon Ramsay, dropping by to plug the season debut on Thursday night of his Fox series, Hell’s Kitchen.

4. Before Dexter Roberts took the stage to perform Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” the audience was instructed to sing along, and was warned that Roberts would be adding the line, “Roll, Tide, Roll,” which would appear on video screens when it was time to sing along.

5. On another commercial break, an extremely loud chorus of booing broke out. It wasn’t because the time-out was too long or that the show doesn’t serve snacks; the audience was asked to boo for the cameras and it was all being recorded, to be dropped in later at some appropriate time.

STORY: ‘American Idol”s Top 12 Agree: The Judges Are ‘Harsh to Everybody’

6. Audience members gave every finalist a standing ovation, but the loudest applause was reserved for Majesty Rose, Caleb Johnson and especially for Jena Irene after her original take on Paramore’s “Decode.”

7. The finalists put in long hours but tonight it was the audience working overtime. After watching the two-hour live broadcast, a majority stayed another hour to watch Harry Connick, Jr. pre-record his performance that will be seen on tonight’s results show. While waiting for cameras to roll, the packed audience heard Connick say, “I’ve never stood on one stage so long without doing anything. I don’t like it!”

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Michael Becker / Fox

Emily Piriz’s American Idol journey began when she was six years old, sitting at home in Hialeah, Fla., watching Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini competing on season one. At 14, Piriz won a golden ticket at the American Idol Experience attraction at Disney World in her new hometown of Orlando. That allowed her to audition for the show without waiting in line. She didn’t make it, but she didn’t give up, competing at the Disney attraction two more times and winning another golden ticket. This time, her audition was successful and she ultimately ended up in the top 13 of season 13. Last night, her Idol adventure came to an end, as she was eliminated from the competition when the judges decided not to save her after her encore performance of Grace Potter & the Nocturnals’ “Stars.”

Piriz was in good spirits when she sat down with The Hollywood Reporter just minutes after being voted off the show. “I’m a lot more confident in myself,” she volunteered when asked how she had grown during her time on Idol. “I’m optimistic. I’m never going to be down on myself.” And what had she gained from the experience? “Friendships that I can keep for a lifetime. The top 11 contestants are not only talented and amazing musicians, they all have such kind hearts.” Piriz said she was grateful, “for being able to work with the production team, the staff, every single person who helps make this show what it is. They’re all incredible.”

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

Piriz had spoken with THR just 24 hours earlier about the Wednesday night performance show. How had she spent the time between that interview and her exit? “I tried to keep my mind off it the last 24 hours. Today I felt like I was going to be in the bottom three. I didn’t feel like I was going to go home. So when they called my name for the bottom three, I wasn’t shocked or surprised.”

Seconds after the live broadcast ended, judge Harry Connick, Jr. was on stage talking with Piriz. “He told me he’s rooting for me. He said, ‘Everything I tell you is to make you a better artist.’ He said he believes in me and I need to continue to grow. He thinks this isn’t the end and I totally feel that way. I’m going to keep fighting and I’m going to keep working toward my dream.

STORY: Why Kristen O’Connor Ditched Her In-Ear Device on ‘American Idol’

“I would like to graduate high school. This summer I want to move out here [to Los Angeles], to pursue my career. I want to write music. I want to make an album and do concerts. I want to keep going toward my dream because I’m not going to stop until I’m on the top.”

If Piriz’ dream does come true and she finds herself on the Billboard charts at some point in the future, she will be following in family footsteps. Her cousin, born Consuelo Piriz but known professionally as simply Connie, peaked at No. 41 on the R&B singles chart in 1986 with the freestyle song, “Funky Little Beat,” and No. 50 with the follow-up, “Experience.”

Twitter: @fredbronson, @idol_worship