American Idol: The Final Season

[Disney's Divinity]

Fox has just ushered in the end of an era. The network announced on Monday that the forthcoming season of "American Idol" will be the show's last. "American Idol" Season 15 will begin airing in January 2016 and will feature longtime host Ryan Seacrest and current judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. The final episodes will pay tribute to past contestants, winners and fans throughout the season, serving as a "celebratory event."

"American Idol" has been a staple in Fox's lineup since it debuted in 2002 with original judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Other famous judges have included Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Steven Tyler. It was also the major launching pad for Seacrest, whose face became a fixture on TV, and dozens of singers including Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks, Phillip Phillips, Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtry and Katharine McPhee.

Last season, the show was paired with ratings megahit "Empire," and on the first night without the show, "Idol" dropped 26 percent in the ratings.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/1 ... 55858.html

Not sure if anyone here still cares, but I thought I'd post it anyway. It went on about 7 years too long. I might've enjoyed the last year if Simon and Paula were coming back, but, no, still stuck with Jennifer Lopez.

[dvdjunkie]

Fox originally reported that the current season was going to be its last, and then recanted and said Season 15 would be its last stand. I haven't paid much attention to the show this season or in many seasons since the "fixed" show that was won by the biggest no-talent ever, Phillip Phillips. I think that the show started its downhill slide when Simon Cowell left the judging panel, and they filled the seat with some fairly inept judges ever since.

I have the first six seasons of American Idol on DVD-R, edited without commercials, except for the Ford ads that involved the Idol contestants. I will keep these as a fond memory of what, at the time, was one of the best shows on television.

Will probably not watch the last season, because of the waste of time it will turn out to be. Will only watch the last show of the series to see all the former winners from seasons past.

[Disney's Divinity]

Apparently, Mariah Carey was asked if she might want to take part in a reunion/farewell show along with all the other judges over the show (Simon, Paula, Kara, Randy, Steven Tyler, Ellen, etc.), but she said, "Hell no!"

I'd be surprised if Nicki Minaj would want to be involved with something irrelevant like Idol is now either. I think they were both used harshly by the show--first by manufacturing drama between them to create publicity and then throwing them under the bus when audience didn't respond well. I thought they both were better judges of talent than JLO or Harry Connick, Jr., who've really ruined the last two (soon to be three) years.

[Disney's Divinity]

I've only been watching this season the past three weeks because of the returning contestants (Ruben, Jordin, Daughtry, David Cook, Pickler, etc.). Jordin was fantastic--and gorgeous--last week. And Kelly was equally great tonight. Why couldn't they have put Kelly on the judging panel instead of JLo???

I'm not getting invested in anyone because I know a white guy's going to win despite the judges going on about how it's a woman's season (see MacKenzie or Dalton for the inevitable), but I do love Avalon Young and Sonika Vaid. I've liked them for opposite reasons actually--Sonika has a phenomenal voice, but she's a little stiff; Avalon has a good voice, but is great with the crowd (unusual for a female contestant on this show). La'Porsha is okay and I'd take her over the others, but I don't like her as much as, say, Candice/Amber a few years ago.

Sonika changed my mind about that tonight by giving the best performance with "Bring Me to Life." I didn't expect it at all, and I hope she keeps delivering more like that.

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, it’s finally over. Of course another white guy won, as expected—the reason this show is cancelled. I won’t go into it since I’d rather remember the good things about the show, but there is one thing. Trent Harmon said after it was announced he won that he “worked SOOO hard.” I’m sure it was the greatest trial to be the 9th white guy to win this show in 15 years. Try it with black skin or a vagina.

The finale, at least, was fantastic. Except for Jennifer Lopez, it was a great send-out to a show that has seen plenty of good, bad, and everything inbetween.

Highlights include: Jennifer Hudson, LaToya London, and Fantasia Barrino singing “A Bridge Over Troubled Water”; Candice Glover bringing the house down with Melinda Doolittle; Jordin Sparks showing up all over the place; Kimberly Locke singing "8th World Wonder"; the quintet of Katharine McPhee with Casey James, Carly Smithson, Ruben Studdard with Amber Holcomb, and Jessica Sanchez; Joshua Ledet reprising “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” (much better than he did originally, imo); Carrie Underwood singing with Keith Urban and later performing “Something in the Water”; and of course Kelly Clarkson doing a medley that featured both brief melodies and lyrics from all her hits before ending on “A Moment Like This.” Not everyone was there—some couldn’t make it, either because they were touring (Crystal Bowersox), pregnant (Kelly Clarkson had to record her medley ahead of time), unknown reasons (Josh Gracin, Angela Miller), or they had passed (Michael Johns).

Although I'm not sad it's ended--in fact, I'd say it's long overdue--I'll remember so many great performances and contestants whose careers (whether big, small, or mostly non-existent) I'll continue to follow. Like: Kelly Clarkson, Kimberly Locke, Jennifer Hudson, Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood, Katharine McPhee, Elliot Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Jordin Sparks, LaKisha Jones, Carly Smithson, David Archuleta, David Cook, Kris Allen, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Josiah Leming, Pia Toscano, Haley Reinhart, Paul McDonald, Candice Glover, Devin Velez, Angela Miller, Kree Harrison, Amber Holcomb, Sam Woolf, Rayvon Owen, Quentin Alexander, Avalon Young, Sonika Vaid, and La'Porsha Renae. They're the reason I forced myself to endure through these final three seasons. I'm definitely glad to have seen all these artists because of American Idol. And for that I'll think positively of the show, if nothing else.