Category: american idol season 11

After two judges quit American Idol (care to make it three, Randy?), now it’s time to start replacing them. It was rumored that Mariah was being considered for X Factor, but she was pregnant at the time. No longer pregnant, now she’s been snapped up by Fox’s other singing competition.

As far as singing talent goes, I don’t think they could find a higher caliber person for their panel, even though I can’t point to anything compelling she’s done since the 90s. Unfortunately, talent does not necessarily equate to judging ability, but anyone has to be better than Jennifer and Steven. Granted, I said that same thing when Paula Abdul left (both shows).

“As a singer, songwriter and producer, it’s going to be fun and rewarding to help find new talent and give back with AMERICAN IDOL,” said Mariah Carey. “I’m currently in the studio working on my new album and its first single, ‘Triumphant,’ which will be out early next month. I can’t wait to channel my creative energy as a part of this show which is a massive global phenomenon.”

“We are proud to have one of the world’s greatest-ever female singers join our show,” said IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “Mariah defines the word ‘Idol’ and will inspire every singer that has the honor of performing in front of her.”

“Mariah Carey is a global icon whose list of musical accomplishments is unprecedented,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia. “Having sold more than 200 million records worldwide, she’s a true artist, ideally suited to identify and nurture AMERICAN IDOL’s next great music superstars. We warmly welcome her to the IDOL family.”

“Mariah Carey is the real deal. Not only is she one of the best-selling artists and performers on the planet and one of the world’s most gifted vocalists, she also is a successful songwriter, record producer and actress,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “She has a deep knowledge of music and a career insight that will make her a really amazing asset to our judges’ table and to our contestants. It’s the dream of almost everyone who auditions for IDOL to sing like Mariah and we couldn’t be happier to have her be part of the show.”

In case you needed any more evidence that the American Idol judging panel for the past couple years is composed of people incapable of forming an original thought, now they’re even quitting in pairs. Yesterday, Steven Tyler quit American Idol. Today, Jennifer Lopez follows suit.

It was first rumored that J Lo was considering leaving the show shortly after the season ended. In a conversation with Ryan Seacrest, she confirmed her plans to leave to focus on her children and a tour with Enrique Iglesias (apparently, she still fancies herself a singer).

As with yesterday, my response is good riddance. The terrible judges killed the show, even if they were, in some respects, getting better during their second season (blatantly absurd favoritism of Joshua and Jessica notwithstanding).

My hope for next year: pick some actual judges. Key word: judge. I don’t want just a pair of legs or a guy who makes highly inappropriate comments to fathers of 16 year old girls. These singers need real guidance, not a bunch of yes men.

It’s been rumored for some time that Jennifer Lopez will be quitting American Idol (I’m still waiting…), but Steven Tyler got the jump on her.

“After some long … hard … thoughts … I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit,” TMZ reports.

Tyler continued, “I strayed from my first love, AEROSMITH, and I’m back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band. The next few years are going to be dedicated to kicking some serious ass – the ultimate in auditory takeover.”

Good riddance. Steve Tyler may have had the name and the star power, but he was a worse judge than Ellen. Hopefully his replacement is a real judge, not somebody who just calls everything beautiful.

The top 2 performed in American Idol Season 11 Episode 39. Tonight one of them will be crowned the American Idol 11 winner.

Phillip Phillips has been a clear frontrunner throughout the season, never once having been in danger, in spite of fairly weak vocals and the occasional disastrous performance. Jessica Sanchez has been a vocal powerhouse who nonetheless has been labeled as boring by some. Once Colton was out, she claimed the Twitter crown. Her sole moment in the hot seat came the weak in which she was eliminated.

And now, we wait. 2 hours and however many minutes this thing runs past the DVR allotment.

After 132 million votes, the winner of American Idol Season 11 is Phillip Phillips. I suspect we may possibly hear of him at some point in the future, though I doubt his song Home is going anywhere.

Though it’s fallen and gotten some competition from NFL and NCIS, meaning it is no longer the top ranked show for the first time in about a decade, American Idol still remains one of the highest rated programs on television, so it goes without saying we will be seeing it again next year, hopefully with different judges. Never fear. In the meantime, there are at least 15 other singing shows to fill the void.

Joshua Ledet was eliminated in American Idol Season 11 Episode 38. Tonight the moment I’ve been waiting all season for. A 1 hour episode. The contestants will sing three times each. First come choices by Simon Fuller, then the contestants resing their favorites song of the season, followed by winning songs that will hopefully be better than they usually are.

Jessica Sanchez
Song: I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston
Numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

The judges don’t have time to give their opinions after each song tonight. Darn. I take it they also don’t have time to give a standing ovation every time, so it’s a good thing Joshua’s gone then.

Phillip Phillips
Song: Stand by Me by Benny King
Numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-06 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Jennifer has no opinion, just a bunch of questions. Randy says Jessica won round 1. Now that he says that, Jennifer agrees.

Seems tomorrow night’s 127 minute finale is not long enough, so tonight Jason Derulo performs.

For her second song, her favorite of the season, Jessica performs The Prayer by Celine Dion, a surprisingly unpredictable performance because it was her final one prior to the top 24, so it’s something we have not seen before.

Phil follows her with Movin Out by Billy Joel, which apparently he sang during Billy Joel week. Neither song sticks out to me as terribly memorable.

Steven says Jessica took it again, and that Phil’s only a partially hatched egg. Randy calls it even. Jennifer gives that round to Phil.

Next, the songs they will be forced to sing if they win. Has any winning song been any good? Only one I can think of is Kelly Clarkson’s A Moment Like This.

Jessica gets a song called Change Nothing. How about changing the song? Randy did not love it, but he loves that she did the best with what she was given. Jennifer doesn’t think she should do that song either.

Phil’s song is called Home. Just as terrible as Jessica’s song. Randy loved the song, Phil, the production, and the marching band. Yeah, we’re supposed to believe Randy loved a marching band.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 40, where we will find out who the American Idol Season 11 winner is, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

The top 3 performed in American Idol Season 11 Episode 37. Tonight 1 more will be sent home. Eventually. But not very quickly.

This is a tough one to call. The problem is that Hollie and Elise so monopolized the bottom 3 this season with 6 appearances each that it hasn’t really given anybody an opportunity to view exactly how the public thinks about any of the three that remain. Realistically, any of the three could go home. Jessica’s already been eliminated once, though she’s been safe ever since, and Joshua has found himself in the bottom three as well. The only untouchable performer of the season has been Phil. If this is about singing, Phil’s toast, but American Idol never was a singing competition. Even Steven says it doesn’t matter if you hit all the notes.

11 minutes in, Seacrest tells us we’re going to get serious and get to some results. Yeah, sure. Go ahead. Go to the bathroom. Then make a souffle. You won’t miss anything.

Jessica Sanchez is the first person to make it into the finale. She will be competing against Phillip Phillips. Joshua Ledet has been eliminated.

Next week, finale week, will have a different schedule, with the show concluding on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 39, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on Fox.

Hollie Cavanagh was finally eliminated in American Idol Season 11 Episode 36. Tonight the top 3 perform, and it’s still 2 hours long. They will sing three songs each, one chosen by the judges, one chosen by the contestants, and one chosen by Jimmy Iovine.

Joshua Ledet
Song: I’d Rather Be Blind by Etta James
Jennifer: Always bring down the house with those numbers.
Randy: Fits you so like a glove.
Numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Jessica Sanchez
Song: My All by Mariah Carey
Randy: I worked with Mariah. One of the best times a Mariah song has been performed on TV.
Jennifer: Hard song, but you did it so beautifully.
Steven: You make people hang on your every note.
Numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Phillip Phillips
Song: Beggin by Madcon
Jennifer: You can’t help it. You had to mess with it.
Steven: Hoping you write your own songs. Could be a new Springsteen.
Randy: We were just at a Phil Phillips concert.
Numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-06 or 1-866-IDOLS-09

Judges didn’t do Jessica any favors with their song choice. I’m not sure they could do any damage to Phil, regardless, if Time of the Season didn’t hurt him, but this song seems a good fit. And of course Joshua gets a standing ovation from them, well past a dozen by now.

In spite of the standing O, Randy declines to pick a winner. Jennifer takes it a step further, saying Phil was the winner of round 1. Steven, like Randy, is unable to pick a winner. So why did you stand up for Josh and nobody else if he did as good as or worse than the others? New judges, please. For this and The Voice. Simon Cowell at least took the hint after just one season, even if his replacements were Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. Guess we won’t have to wait long seeing as J Lo is probably going to quit after next week anyway.

Joshua Ledet
Song: Imagine by John Lennon
Steven: Another thank you god moment.
Jennifer: A pulled back and controlled performance.
Randy: Another stellar performance.

Jessica Sanchez
Song: I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith
Steven: Took a great song and made it greater.
Jennifer: Sent everybody into the heavens.
Randy: This girl is bold. Started a little slow, but you delivered a big moment at the end.

Phillip Phillips
Song: Disease by Matchbox 20
Jennifer: Didn’t feel it was the wow performance.
Steven: Feel the same way she did.
Randy: I didn’t like it either. Such a subdued moment.

Joshua Ledet
Song: No More Drama by Mary J Blige
Randy: You have laid everything on this stage.
Steven: Felt the last 40 years in the music business.

Jessica Sanchez
Song: I’ll Be There by Jackson 5
Steven: Perfect song. Perfect voice.
Jennifer: Perfect tone. Almost sounded like Michael.
Randy: Okay. Never a moment moment moment.

Phillip Phillips
Song: We’ve Got Tonight by Bob Seger
Randy: Your best performance on the show ever.
Jennifer: Just like a lullaby.
Steven: It doesn’t matter if you hit the notes or not.

Jimmy by far picked the better song for Jessica, but I’m not sure what to think about that Phil song. Was it a problem because it showed he’s a weak singer, or was it genius because the girls voting for him won’t care?

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 38, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.

The top 4 performed in American Idol Season 11 Episode 35. Tonight 1 more will be sent home.

Phil notwithstanding (I still don’t get it), I wouldn’t be too surprised by any of them leaving, though Hollie, who will tie Elise’s six times in the bottom if she is there again, seems like the most likely candidate, a position with which she’s familiar.

Phillip Phillips is up first. He… returns to the couch and may or may not be safe. Lame, Seacrest.

From there, we fill an hour, concluding with Jennifer Lopez doing what made her famous, wearing revealing clothing and shaking her butt (in between, she sings a little).

All four contestants gather on stage for the results. Jessica Sanchez is in the top three. Joshua Ledet is joining her. Phillip Phillips takes the last spot in the final three. Hollie Cavanagh has been eliminated.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 37, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.