American Idol

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FOX Execs: 'Idol' and '24' aren't broken

July 22, 03:16 PM

You don't often get the opportunity to hear a network executive apologize for the performance of TV's most-watched show or defending an outstanding drama Emmy winner, but FOX's new dynamic duo of Peter Liguori and Kevin Reilly found themselves doing just that on Sunday (July 22) morning. Continue reading »

in American Idol , FOX , Press Tour

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Finalewatch '07: 'American Idol' minute-by-minute

May 23, 05:30 PM

[This post, with its minute-by-minute recap of the American Idol finale will -- go figure -- contain spoilers of the American Idol finale.] In its six seasons, American Idol has produced several tension-filled finales in which, up until the very... Continue reading »

in American Idol , Finales , FOX , Reality TV

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'Idol' Recap 05/22: One guy, one girl, one bad new song

May 22, 06:11 PM

I'm not saying I'm clairvoyant, but back in mid-January, after the season's very first episode of American Idol, I made the following observation: "Through the first four hours of American Idol audition footage, I'll guarantee you that we haven't seen... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Results 05/16: Bring Back Yamin!

May 16, 07:10 PM

It's time to cut down to two on American Idol. Will it be Blake and Melinda? Jordin and Blake? Blake and Jordin? Melinda and Jordin? And will I be able to stay awake through the hour-long results show in order... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 05/15: Is three times the charm?

May 15, 06:25 PM

How should we interpret Clive Davis' absence tonight? Tuesday (May 15) night's American Idol is usually the part of the show where the Top Three perform three songs -- one self-selected, one selected by the judges and one picked by... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Bootee LaKisha is telling you she's not going

May 11, 02:34 PM

It took 90 seconds for LaKisha Jones to go from briefly spotted audition round afterthought to suddenly hot American Idol favorite. It was Feb . 21, the second night of Idol 24 performances and LaKisha Jones' version of "I Am... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Results 05/09: In which 'Stayin' Alive' proves to be an ironic song choice

May 09, 07:18 PM

The following is a minute-by-minute recap of Wednesday (May 9) night's particularly boring American Idol results show. 9:00 p.m. ET Now this is the Dice-K the Red Sox paid all that money for. Who needs Clemens? Oh. Wait. Idol. Excuse... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 05/08: The Final Four are barely stayin' alive

May 08, 06:12 PM

On Tuesday (May 8) night, this season's American Idol contestants prepare to honor the fact that although the Bee-Gees released 20 albums in their acclaimed career, we mostly think of them as being those guys who composed walking music for... Continue reading »

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Parting words from 'Idol' bootees Chris and Phil

May 04, 02:37 PM

Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson got hosed. It's bad enough that they were victims of Wednesday (May 2) night's double-elimination on American Idol, thus missing out on the glitz and glamour of Boogie Night. In addition, though, they missed out... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Results 05/02: Going down in a blaze of glory

May 02, 07:15 PM

No fooling this week, America. We're sending somebody home on Wednesday (May 2) night's American Idol. Two somebodies, in fact. 9:01 p.m. Host Ryan Seacrest launches the show promising, "double the nerves and double the tension." He also swears, "Once... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 05/01: Paying tribute to the legacy of Bon Jovi

May 01, 06:26 PM

After spending three hours last week earning roughly $70 million for charity, American Idol is sufficiently over its altruism that Ryan Seacrest can start Tuesday (May 1) night's show by referring to the judges as "our three needy children." The... Continue reading »

in American Idol , FOX , Pilot Season

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Idol Gives Back: A Minute-by-Minute Recap

April 25, 06:03 PM

It took a while, but I finally figured out my loophole. As regular readers know, I've been approaching this week's episodes with a bit of a conundrum. Idol Gives Back is a good thing, regardless of what percentage of the... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 04/24: Songs of Inspiration from the Top Six

April 24, 06:18 PM

Tuesday (April 24) night's American Idol is glutted with infomercials, nods to the show's benevolent corporate sponsors and unnerving footage of Simon acting caring, but as the start of the Idol Gives Back event, I'm inclined to just let it... Continue reading »

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Sanjaya Malakar says 'Good-bye'

April 20, 01:57 PM

Critics, reporters and bloggers (yes, they're all still different things, barely) have said some mean things about Sanjaya Malakar. They've mocked him for his voice, for his smile, for his hair, for his attitude. They've said he was destroying American... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Results 04/18: This season's national nightmare ends

April 18, 07:16 PM

It turns out that the only thing that keeps me awake during these hour-long American Idol results shows (beyond a Boston Red Sox game in the background) is doing a minute-by-minute recap. It's the intellectual equivalent of pinching myself. Here's... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 04/17: The Top Seven and the Corpse McBride

April 17, 06:21 PM

What were the odds of Tax Day and American Idol Country Night coinciding? All I needed to make Tuesday (April 17) complete was a dentist appointment. Throw in the fact that Idol got rid of one of its more viable... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Bootee Haley: It's just legs

April 13, 02:41 PM

Kentucky Fried Chicken has been very public in offering Sanjaya Malakar promotional considerations in exchange for cutting his hair, but perhaps KFC should turn its attention to Sanjaya's departed American Idol colleague Haley Scarnato, because if she's going to spend... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Results 04/11: It's J-Lo's best performance since 'Gigli'

April 11, 07:23 PM

How do you solve a problem like a 60-minute American Idol results show when you only have 30 seconds of substance? The following is a minute-by-minute recap of Wednesday (April 11) night's telecast, or the parts I was able to... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 04/10: Sanjaya's en fuego!

April 10, 06:22 PM

Bringing in Jennifer Lopez to mentor contestants for a singing competition would be like America's Next Top Model welcoming Anna Kournikova as a guest advisor, or George Foreman stopping by to teach the gang on Top Chef. Sure, J-Lo has... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Bootee Gina loved hearing the boos

April 07, 04:29 PM

Usually, talent show contestants don't like hearing boos, but that wasn't the case on Wednesday (April 4) night for American Idol finalist Gina Glocksen. The boos came raining down after host Ryan Seacrest announced that Glocksen would be going home... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Results 04/04: 'Smile' through the tears

April 04, 06:36 PM

As usual, Wednesday (April 4) night's American Idol results show begins with a recap of the previous evening's standouts and several things bear repeating: Melinda Doolittle? Brilliant, get over it all you "she's a boring troll" haters. Phil Stacey? Nice... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 04/03: A night of classics for the Top Nine

April 04, 09:26 AM

How is this night different from all other nights? Well, the pundits are all wondering about the Passover Effect, and what impact thousands of prematurely truncated Seders will have on the voting results following Tuesday (April 3) night's Tony Bennett-mentored... Continue reading »

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Sligh: 'I almost dropped out' of 'Idol'

March 30, 10:54 AM

Chris Sligh may have been voted off of American Idol on Wednesday (March 28) night, but talking to reporters on Thursday, the booted contestant expressed no regret. In fact, Sligh admits that he nearly self-truncated his Idol run. "I never... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Results 03/28: Every little thing isn't magic

March 28, 06:48 PM

American Idol fans, let's take pause, for just a second, to enjoy these blissfully brief 30-minute results shows while we still can. If having to watch 'Til Death is the price we pay for less filler, then so be it,... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 03/27: No Doubt the Top 10 knew the theme

March 27, 06:38 PM

The theme for Tuesday (March 27) night's American Idol performance episode was announced as Pop Music. Then producer Nigel Lythgoe narrowed it down to any music that influenced the night's guest mentor, Gwen Stefani. But at least three of the... Continue reading »

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Stephanie Edwards wishes 'Idol' had shown her 'goofy, fun side'

March 23, 12:03 PM

Here's something you don't get to say every day: "Peter Noone is right." Earlier this week, the Herman's Hermits (not to be confused with Herman's Head) veteran said that American Idol isn't really a singing competition, no matter what Simon... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Week 2 results: Ashley, go ahead and cry

By Rick Porter

March 21, 09:44 PM

One of this week's American Idol guest coaches, Peter Noone, sings "There's a Kind of Hush" at the top of Wednesday's show, and it demonstrates what was wrong with some of the song choices last night. He lets the melody... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 03/20: The British Invade the Top 11

March 20, 07:15 PM

Show of hands -- How many of you are planning on going to Idol Camp with me this summer? Swimming! Sailing! Shabbat dinners! Obscure theme nights! It'll be just like Meatballs! Sigh. OK. On to Tuesday (March 20) night's American... Continue reading »

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Brandon Rogers: I absolutely knew it was coming

March 16, 11:47 AM

Although he was the first American Idol contestant eliminated from this season's Top 12, Brandon Rogers hasn't generated the kind of enmity that early Idol rejects often produce. The former background singer -- as he's invariably [and accurately, I guess]... Continue reading »

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'Idol' results: Back to the background

By Rick Porter

March 14, 06:50 PM

Attention, West Coast denizens and DVR users: It should go without saying that we'll be revealing the results of this week's American Idol vote below. But just in case, we're saying it. Don't read if you don't want to know.... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 03/13: Top 12 sing Diana Ross

March 13, 07:25 PM

Tuesday (March 13) night's American Idol is packed with more individual performances and more of the sage wisdom of Diana Ross than any human being should ever have to stomach in a two-hour period. So let's just talk performances: Singer:... Continue reading »

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Antonella discusses the scandal and her 'Idol' experience

March 09, 02:54 PM

As you may possibly have heard, there was a little controversy this season involving American Idol contestant Antonella Barba. On Friday (March 9) the morning after her elimination, Antonella got on the phone with a group of answer-starved reporters and... Continue reading »

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Several surprising cuts as 'Idol' reaches its Top 12

March 08, 06:20 PM

Viewers who tuned in a second or two late to Thursday (March 8) night's American Idol results show may have been shocked to be instantly thrown into a scene of unbearable torture set, Reservoir Dogs-style, to the melody of Stealers... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 03/07: Top Eight Women Perform [Mostly Melinda]

March 07, 06:23 PM

American Idol is all about equality. Even though the men all stink, for example, six of them are making it to the Top 12. Would it be so surprising, then, for the Idol producers to have secretly equipped each of... Continue reading »

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The Great Antonella/Frenchie Kerfuffle

March 07, 12:44 PM

Fine... Let's talk about Frenchie Davis and Antonella Barba. I didn't really want to get into this discussion, but once Rosie O'Donnell and the New York Post start blabbing their ill-informed opinions everywhere, I might as well share my own.... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 03/06: Top Eight Men Perform [Badly]

March 06, 06:19 PM

I was at an event the other night where they showed us an edited version of last year's Idol finale and I found myself wondering: Is there a single guy this season on the level of Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin... Continue reading »

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Candid 'Idol' talk from the Paley Festival

March 01, 11:26 PM

American Idol is TV's most popular show, a fact you'd easily have guessed from the crowd at Thursday (March 1) night's Idol panel at the Museum of Television & Radio's 24th Annual William S. Paley Television Festival. The devotion wasn't... Continue reading »

in American Idol , FOX , Paley Festival , Reality TV

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'Feelin' Good,' or maybe not so much, on 'Idol'

By Rick Porter

March 01, 06:43 PM

So what did we learn from the American Idol results on Thursday? I mean aside from the fact that Kellie Pickler has some new, um, shoes. We learned that it's maybe not a good idea to sing a Nina Simone... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 02/28: Top 10 Women Perform

February 28, 06:47 PM

On Tuesday night, the Idol Men raised the bar to somewhere below where the Women already were last week. On Wednesday (Feb. 28) night's American Idol, the best of the women raised the bar to a place the men probably... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 02/27: Top 10 Men Perform

February 27, 06:50 PM

"The Guys are back," Ryan Seacrest warns, kicking off Tuesday (Feb. 27) night's American Idol performance episode. "And this time it's personal." I believe he's referring to the fact that every judge, observer and armchair critic is pretty much ready... Continue reading »

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The First 'Idol' cut isn't actually the deepest

February 22, 06:32 PM

Let's play Jeopardy! Answer: Stevie Scott, Becky O'Donohue, Bobby Bennett and Patrick Hall. Question: Who were the first four members of the American Idol Top 24 eliminated last season? If you remember Becky at all, it's from her semi-raunchy Maxim... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 02/21: Top 12 Women Perform

February 21, 07:14 PM

One of the most under-reported stories from the first night of American Idol performances was that despite Ryan Seacrest's puerile attempts to pick fights with the judges (specifically Simon) for being excessively harsh, even Paula Abdul had to stretch to... Continue reading »

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'American Idol' Recap 02/20: Top 12 Men Perform

February 20, 08:07 PM

From gigantic former cheeleaders to sentiment-inducing old men to one very weird Cowardly Lion, American Idol viewers have already had to put up with a lot this season, but on Tuesday (Feb. 20) night, with the first appearance of the... Continue reading »

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'Idol' Top 24: First Reactions

February 15, 10:48 AM

Kudos to the producers and judges on American Idol -- Y'all have me stumped. Four years ago, I could have told you from the start of the Top 24 that Ruben and Clay were the people to watch. You knew... Continue reading »