In a move widely expected by industry insiders, American Idol executiveproducers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick "will be leaving the show,” a source tells The Hollywood Reporter. However, formal exit discussions have not yet begun.
Rapper Nicki Minaj followed Mariah Carey's lead on Thursday afternoon, announcing via Twitter, "Thank you American Idol for a life changing experience! Wouldn't trade it for the world! Time to focus on the Music!!! Mmmuuuaahhh!!!"
His return to the stage was one of the highlights of the American Idol season 12 finale. We're talking, of course, about season eight runner-u[ Adam Lambert, who joined top three finalist Angie Miller for an emotional rendition of David Guetta and Sia's "Titanium."
The numbers are in on the American Idol season 12 finale, and it’s not a pretty picture. The Fox show saw a dip of more than 40 percent from the 2012 season closer, losing some 7 million viewers to come in at a 3.6 rating among adults 18-49. Total viewers equaled 14.3 million -- the first time a finale has not reached the 20-million mark since the show first aired in 2002.
AdamLambert returned, JenniferLopez worked the wind machine and Randy Jackson was honored with a farewell package featuring dogs, not dawgs. With season 12 officially in the history books, AmericanIdol pulled out all the stops to make the 2013 finale memorable.
After enduring weeks of live performances and judges' critiques -- not to mention the frosty Mariah Carey-Nicki Minaj feud -- Candice Glover has defeated Kree Harrison to win the 12th season of American Idol.
The audience was larger than usual, as the American Idol set moved from CBS Television City in Los Angeles to the Nokia Theatre, downtown at L.A. Live for the top two performance finale. But, as always, there were things you didn’t see if you weren’t inside the venue. The Hollywood Reporter observed them for you from a reserved seat.
Preparations are in full swing for Thursday night's American Idol grand finale at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre where, following Wednesday's showdown between Kree Harrison and Candice Glover, the entire audience was loaded out and a new one brought in for a pre-tape of Mariah Carey's performance.
Because in this battle of soul singers -- the first girl versus girl finale since 2004 -- Kree Harrison and Candice Glover, both wildly talented, have proven to be equally deserving of the season 12 title.
"Teddy bear," "sweetheart," "supporter" -- those are just some of the words used to describe Randy Jackson by American Idol graduates. Since 2002, when he first sat alongside then-judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, the affable music industry veteran has become a pop culture icon thanks to his signature catch-phrases and less-is-more critiques.
Angie Miller's American Idol exit came as a shock on Thursday night, as the top 3 finalist, and presumptive frontrunner cleared the way for Kree Harrison and Candice Glover to duke it out on the season 12 finale.
Perhaps equally surprising: how the 19-year-old Beverly, Mass. native managed to maintain her composure following the show.
Kree Harrison is somewhat of an anomaly among American Idol finalists. Hardly one to lean on bubblegum pop for song picks, she sings from the heart -- blues, authentic “country & western” -- with a focused maturity that you rarely see.
So it really should come as no surprise that the Woodville, Texas 22-year-old would make it to the final two on season 12. Yet, the odds were against her.
After 11 years on the air, American Idol continues to surprise: In an upset that few saw coming, Angie Miller -- piano player, power singer and bright-eyed Miley Cyrus doppelganger -- lost a spot in next week's finale to rivals Kree Harrison and Candice Glover.
