With American Idol ratings in a tailspin, producers are scrambling behind the scenes to keep the Fox franchise afloat with just four weeks to go until season 12 crowns a winner.
Who will it be: gentle Kree Harrison, fierce Candice Glover, sultry Amber Holcomb or peppy Angie Miller? At this point, does anyone really care who wins?
One thing you can always say about American Idol -- despite any behind-the-scenes drama, the judges and ever reliable host Ryan Seacrest always show up with their game face on and professionalism in check.
Certainly that was the case for Wednesday’s top 4 show, when finalists Kree Harrison, Amber Holcomb, Candice Glover and Angie Miller hit the stage for two solo numbers and one duet.
In the final stretches, American Idol is clearly putting pressure on the judges to crack down on coddled contestants who have a consistent track record of do-no-wrong performances.
10:31 PM PDT 4/19/2013 by Michele Amabile Angermiller
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Season 12 will go down in AmericanIdol history as the year the top 5 was comprised of an all-female group, and JanelleArthur said she is honored to share the moment with the girls she now calls her “good friends".
The first moments of Thursday's American Idol made me want to turn off the TV: the final five, forced by the increasingly out-of-touch producers to perform another unwatchable and dated medley of '70s elevator music, moved awkwardly onstage as a pack of hyper-caffeinated back-up dancers writhed around them to a soundtrack of "Last Dance" (and other songs you never, ever, ever want to hear again, not in your lifetime, not at a wedding, not at an office Christmas party, not ever).
The first all-female top five in American Idol history took on divas and songs from their birth years for this week's themes. Did you watch the show at home on Wednesday night? Then, here are 11 things you didn’t see.
9:50 PM PDT 4/17/2013 by Michele Amabile Angermiller
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With the final five women remaining in the competition, AmericanIdol went full-on diva with a nod to strong female icons for half its theme and what host RyanSeacrest called “an Idol favorite” -- songs from the year the singers were born -- to round it out.
Despite an energetic and enthusiastic audience response on Wednesday night’s performance show, Seacrest took a moment to address the nation’s grief after the Boston Marathon bombing.
5:15 PM PDT 4/12/2013 by Michele Amabile Angermiller
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LazaroArbos may have not won American Idol, but if gets his wish, he'll be handed the best consolation prize ever. As the Florida ice cream scooper revealed to reporters on Friday's conference call, he's working on arranging a duet with Cher for the finale.
“Six months ago when the show came on, she saw me and she connected with me,” he said. “She followed me on Twitter, and we’ve been talking back and forth since then. I love her songs!”
Everyone, breathe a sigh of relief. Lazaro Arbos' improbable, Sanjaya-like run on American Idol is over: after weeks of remaining in the competition despite being talentless and tone-deaf and unprepared, the sweaty ice cream scooper was finally voted out Thursday night in an unpredictable elimination round that could have sent Amber Holcomb home instead.
4:00 PM PDT 4/11/2013 by Shirley Halperin, Fred Bronson
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American Idol looked to the classics -- the Burt Bacharach/Hal David 1970s hit parade -- for half of its theme on Wednesday night, while the second hour was an open book for the finalists: the song I wish I had written.
Most handled the challenge expertly, but a couple stumbled. But even as the weeks count down to the finale, there’s still plenty of questions about the future top five. Read on for this week's answers ...
When the season 12 contestants gather for breakfast on Friday, there will be one less egg to fry. But will it be five girls or four and a guy? Before we find out the results tonight, here are 15 things you didn’t see if you watched American Idol at home on Wednesday night. The Hollywood Reporter, as always, had a prime seat at Stage 36. Read on ...
9:14 PM PDT 4/10/2013 by Michele Amabile Angermiller
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This week, the remaining six AmericanIdol singers each said a little prayer as they tried to deliver the goods on two themes: tunes by Burt Bacharach/Hal David and a song they wish they had written.
After an emotional cold open, host RyanSeacrest said, “The fire inside our finalists is burning stronger than ever.”
It's official: Lazaro "I Forgot the Lyrics" Arbos is the new Sanjaya Malakar. Not only is the Florida ice cream scooper of questionable talent, but his mere presence in this self-serious competition seems like a cruel joke.
American Idol’s top 7 were ready to rock on Wednesday night, as the show kicked out some old-timely jams -- and one Evanescence song -- for its theme this week. Most handled the challenge competently, which could make Thursday’s results slightly less predictable. Until that riveting moment, 15 things you didn’t see on TV to hold you over…
