EDDIE ELIMINATED FROM UPN'S "THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT"

New Orleans Construction Worker Is the Eighth To Be Asked to Leave the Tour

Eddie, a 25-year-old construction worker from New Orleans, was the eighth performer eliminated from UPN�s new dramality series, THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, reducing the pool from six participants to five.

In Las Vegas, the remaining challengers' friendships and feelings were pushed to the limit after being asked to turn on each other during an emotional "musical chairs"-style road challenge. Given an hour to judge each other, the vocalists took turns freestyling while cruising the city's famous strip, but when the limo stopped, the group had to kick one of their own to the curb. After teaming up to dismiss Eddie, Akil and the others, a tearful Deltrice conceded the challenge to her friend Jessica.

Later, at the performance challenge, special guest Hi-Hat, a noted choreographer and Missy's tour artistic director, joined the judges to test the competitors' abilities as all-around entertainers. In addition to performing rehearsed choreographed steps, the participants had to accommodate a series of surprise musical requests. While Nilyne stepped up with a spirited farewell verse to Nic, Eddie's attempt at singing, rather than rapping, fell flat vocally.

While deliberating, Teena spoke for the group when saying, "Akil was a little stiff today and he didn't have the moves together." Mona added, "The song was good, but the singing marginal." Then, Mona asked, "What happened with Eddie today?" The trio concluded that while he did a fair job with the dancing, Eddie isn't a singer, especially when compared to the rest of the challengers.

Standing before a private jet bound for Los Angeles, the judges ultimately offered Eddie and Akil up to Missy for final elimination. Going before Missy on the plane, Akil admitted that his dance moves were "a little weak," but offered up an original song upon request. Then, Missy asked Eddie, "the man with the Colgate smile," what was lacking in his performance. Eddie said, "I'm normally a big personality person. I was a little short on that cause I been under the weather." Unhappy with the excuse, she said to her dancers, "I know he's an emcee, but I'm feeling like this is the hype man right now."

In the end, lollipop in hand, Missy stood before the pair and explained her conflict. She said, "Because both of y'all was on that same level, I should send both of you then off the tour." Considering her options, she asked them both to discuss why the other should go. When Missy got Eddie to admit that Akil's music was "real" and "a breath of fresh air," she decided to tell Eddie that he was off the tour.

On UPN'S THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, 13 aspiring vocal performers travel coast-to-coast with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott, living together on the road in an austere tour bus and competing against each other for a record contract, a released single and $100,000. Missy leads the panel of music industry judges, including Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist Teena Marie, Grammy Award-winning producer Dallas Austin, and president of Violator Management Mona Scott.

THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT airs Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

RATING: To Be Announced