After a powerhouse performance and a few tussles with his fellow rockers, Ryan Star received a new nickname from Dave Navarro.
Long Islanders familiar with Star know that he's a gutsy songwriter, but this week he got a chance to prove it to the members of Supernova.
After fighting with Storm Large for the chance to perform an original song on Tuesday, Ryan walked away triumphant and played "Back of Your Car," wowing the judges. "Dude, where the hell did this guy come from?" Dave Navarro said. "I'm gonna start calling you Ryan 'The Dark Horse' Star."
On Wednesday's show, front-runner Dilana seemed to realize Star was nipping at her heels. "You would have been nothing without that house band," she told him jovially at the mansion. "You know what? I'm getting more votes than you are, Ryan." Dilana verbally trashed several other contestants throughout the show, bringing her a scolding from the judges. And a noticeable frost formed between her and Lukas Rossi.
The week's bottom three comprised Magni, Toby Rand and, for the fourth time, Patrice Pike, who tried to save herself with a heartfelt version of The Pretenders' "Middle of the Road." But Pike got the axe.
With just six rockers left, the contest still appears to be a toss-up between Dilana and Rossi. But a cynic might say that Dilana doesn't actually stand a chance: Historically, rock fans don't embrace female-fronted bands, as the veterans of Supernova must know. With Star shaping up as the only other serious contender, could we be in for a Rossi-Star showdown?