After a season that brought us a fourth (un-needed, some might say) judge, the return of of the wild-card round, the introduction of the judges' save, plenty of high notes (and even a few bum ones), we've made it to the finale. Who has America named as the eighth Idol? And who showed up to rock the house? The answers lie ahead in our recap.
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After weeks of amazing performances (plus plenty that made us laugh and cringe) we're finally here: the final performance show. Adam Lambert has clearly won the judges over, but can Kris Allen pull the upset? Let's find out!
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It's down to the final hours of American Idol! After this tense results show, only two singers are left in the battle to become America's next Idol. Following four month of whittling down the wannabes, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert sang their hearts out this week with one song selected by the judges, and one song of their own choosing. Which guy is going home? Let's dive in.
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The Top 3 finalists sing two songs each in a performance edition. The show's 300th episode.
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Danny Gokey, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert perform two songs tonight as they fight for the title of the next American Idol. One song will be chosen by the judges, the other by the contestants themselves. Will they pick the perfect songs, or will the pressure finally get to them?
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This critical results show was packed with tons of musical performances, but for one of our four hopefuls, the music stopped. So who rocked the stage and who rolled out the door after a record-setting 64 million votes were cast? Let's find out.
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It's Rock Week on American Idol! Former Guns N' Roses axman Slash has mentored the kiddies, so we'll be on the lookout for dangling cigarette butts and impeccably conditioned mountains of curly hair. I'm sure that Tuesday's proceedings will stretch the boundaries of "rock" in new and "interesting" directions, as the contestants are not all equally suited to more hard-edged songs (we're looking at you, Kris and Danny!).
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One more Idol will bid us farewell tonight, but only after we see performances from Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, Natalie Cole and Rat-Pack mentor Jamie Foxx.
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The remaining Idols take on a fun and potentially difficult genre of songs: Rat Pack standards, with Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as their mentor.
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The Top 7 Idols brace themselves to lose two contestants from their tight-knit group in this week's elimination round. But, not before we hear the sweet sounds of Season 7 runner-up, David Archuleta.
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Break out your platforms, spandex and short shorts: this week our Idol hopefuls are taking on disco! And since Matt Giraud was saved by the judges last week, we'll have to say goodbye to two contestants on Wednesday's elimination show.
Hello Idol fans! It's finally here. The week I dread the most during these theme shows: Disco week. Really? Out of all the amazing music genres or artists' repertoires to pick, the producers have to stick with disco? Boo.
On a positive note, it seems that someone finally called a meeting at Fox and told Seacrest and the judges to get down to business at the top of the show. No lame drawn out intros or nonsense; they literally swoop right into Lil Rounds' song. So, let's follow suit.
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Teen sensation Miley Cyrus takes the stage as part of the cinema-themed week, Oscar winner and former Idol Jennifer Hudson performs and one more hopeful faces elimination.
Hey dawgs! Once again, I must thank you all for your awesome comments on Tuesday's episode — even the one poster who said I was too snarky and was running off to read Michael Slezak's recap. Moi? Snarky? Compared to Slezak? I think we all know who would win that snark-off. Just sayin'. But seriously, thanks for your lively debates and passionate beliefs!
Ryan begins the night by introducing our Top 7 and reminding us that the Top 10 will be on tour beginning this summer (in 50 cities? Did I hear that right?). After the magazine cover-themed music video, the Idols launch into "She's a Maniac" from Flashdance. Like last week, it's not lip-synched, which is good? Such a weird song to sing, out of all the movie songs they could've chosen. I love how the contestants get crap for bad song choices, but the producers don't do any better with their selections.
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The remaining contestants take a shot at singing songs from the cinema with help from the ever-spazzy movie director Quentin Tarantino as their mentor.
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This American Idol results show featured tons of performances, including those of the crowd-pumping hip-hop variety and twangy country alike. But there was also a surprise blast from the past, an un-lip-synched group number and, of course, one of our Top 8 sang for his/her life. Who did America vote into the Bottom 3? And did the judges see fit to save someone from elimination? Let's find out.
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The competition heats up this week as the Top 8 perform songs from the year they were born.
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The Top 10 Idol hopefuls motored through Motown songs with help from mentor Smokey Robinson on Tuesday. After performances from Joss Stone, Smokey and Stevie Wonder, we'll find out if one more contestant will be headed home — aka, whether or not Paula and Simon put down their crayons long enough to help kick another Idol hopeful to the curb.
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Oh Motown! The lyrics "Sugar pie, honey bunch" and "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day" may be dancing in your head, but let's hope our remaining Idols pick more interesting and original songs from the genre's vast catalogue.
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The finalists perform Motown songs in the third showcase edition, with judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson offering advice, praise or criticism. Appearing: Motown luminaries Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson.
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After a less painful country-themed night of performances, America has voted, and one more Idol will be sent home... unless the judges invoke their "save" rule.
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This week, the remaining 11 Idols will be singing country songs that celebrate the Grand Old Opry with help from mentor Randy Travis.
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A new rule that could have quite an impact on the rest of the season is revealed, and Kanye West and Kelly Clarkson perform (separately).
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The Top 13 take the big stage at last, and the stakes have been raised. Since there are 13 contestants this time around, Simon announced that two hopefuls will be eliminated Wednesday night instead of one.
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Well here we are, kids — the night we finalize the Top 12, er, 13. That's right, Simon waited until the last minute to drop the bombshell on one lucky contestant — and us at home — that Season 8 will have 13 finalists. So which half of the Wild Card singers made it through? Let's find out.
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Another night, another painful group performance, and another three make it into American Idol's Top 12. Did the singers you voted for find themselves sitting on one of those coveted silver stools? And who will be battling for one of three wild card slots? Let's find out!<
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On Tuesday's American Idol, another dozen was sent to the chopping block. Three will move forward; the rest will soon be appearing at a steakhouse near you. Overall, it's a tough call: There were many promising performances, to be sure, although most of the finalists were plagued by various issues about song choice, styling and displaying their true personalities to full advantage. Who will make the top 12? Read on to peruse my admittedly amateur observations, and then weigh in on who you think deserves to make the cut.
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Three more stools have been added on stage for the next performers who will move on to the Top 12 on American Idol. After some disastrous song choices and shaky performances, who did America vote through to the next round?
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After last week's lackluster performances, a new group of 12 hopefuls takes the stage on American Idol. Has this group learned the value and importance of song choice? Will this week's hot young things stay away from winking and cougar faces? Read the rest of the recap after the jump!
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America has voted, and the first three of the final 12 will be revealed on Wednesday. Tuesday's show was a mixed bag of performances from our first group: Anoop, Alexis and Danny performed well under pressure, while Casey and Stevie made disastrous song choices. Who will make it through to the coveted top 12?
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Tuesday night marked the first time America will vote for our Season 8 American Idol hopefuls. Things are going to work a little differently this season: the top 36 have been split up into three groups of 12. Your vote will send through the highest ranking girl and boy, as well as whoever earns the next highest amount of votes. That's right, only three will make it through to the top 12 this week.
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Welcome to the final evening of Hollywood week: The judges mansion. It's a magnificent place where the judges will give a yay or nay to the remaining contestants, and in some cases, they will make two contestants compete for one spot using the sing-off technique.
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As Ryan Seacrest says at the beginning of Tuesday's episode, "It's do or die time." The remaining 75 Idol contestants will perform solo for the judges, accompanied by the band, backup singers and, if they choose, they may play an instrument. After last week's ridiculous amount of drama, let's hope the judges and producers finally get down to business.
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Welcome to American Idol, though Wednesday's show feels much more like 90210. Oh the drama! 107 contestants will compete in the high-pressure group challenge, but only 75 will make it through to the next round. At the end of it all, will your favorite make it, or will they be headed home (to some serious therapy)?
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Finally we've reached Hollywood week; the make it or break it time where 147 wannabes are whittled down to 36. Whose dreams will be shattered and who will make it through to another week?
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As Ryan says, "fasten your seatbelts," because you're in for a wild ride, courtesy of New York City and San Juan. That's right, tonight we get a two-for-one deal on Idol hopefuls! Which city will produce the most talent?
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Welcome to Salt Lake City, Dawgs! It's the land of David Archuleta as well as thousands of very "shiny, happy people" waiting to audition. But, will any of these happy peeps be able to impress our lap-sitting, fake making-out judges?
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More Idol hopefuls flooded into Jacksonville, aka Randy's hometown, dreaming of a chance to have their story told, or receive "yeses" from their beloved judges, or to hold a golden ticket in their hand. Or, if you're Bikini Girl, your dream is to have a chance to mack on Ryan Seacrest.
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Welcome back, Idol fans! After a lackluster showing of talent in San Francisco last night (save of course for "singing from the wrong rectum" girl), we're hoping for a much better batch of wannabes in Louisville. After a cheesy visit to Churchill Downs, we get to finally meet the hopefuls. But did Louisville deliver?
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Our Idol wannabes have flocked to San Francisco this week to make their dreams of being the next Kelly Clarkson or David Cook come true. Who will make us squirm, and who will make us smile?
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We're back for the latest round of auditions in David Cook's stomping grounds of Kansas City! Let me here you out there KC peeps! (I'll just pretend I heard you). We get so see a little rewind of David Cook's last visit, and then see the new batch of hopefuls (11K of them!) mug it up for the cameras. Whoa, there's Jason Castro, there to support his brother who is auditioning!
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We begin the first leg of the American Idol journey in Phoenix, Ariz. with the first day of auditions. Who will choke? And who will give us chills?
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