American Idol performance leaves judges in hysterics

A bizarre American Idol performance had the judges in hysterics - and Simon Cowell hugging it out.

Simon, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson collapsed in fits of laughter as Renaldo Lapuz took to the stage.

The enthusiastic contestant revealed his admiration for Cowell before bursting into a song he had written himself.

Dressed in a white hat, with 'Simon' on the front, and a silver cape, Renaldo performed his tune as the Idol judges looked on in amazement.

Paula, Randy and host Ryan Seacrest danced on stage with him, while Simon gave him a hug at the end of his routine. But the trio failed to let Renaldo through to the next stage of the competition.

The seventh season of American Idol is the lowest rated in four years - but the Tuesday night premiere still beat its competition.

According to national Nielsen data, the show received at 13.8 rating among adults aged 18 to 49.

The score was down 13 per cent from last year and down 10 per cent from the 2006 series.