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Apr 28 2011 05:30 PM ET

'American Idol': Who did you think would win eight weeks ago? Who do you think will win now?

by Kate Ward

Tags: American Idol, Made Us Think, Reality TV, Television, American Idol, Reality TV, Television, TV

Image Credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Eight weeks after we met our Top 13 in March, we are now halfway through American Idol‘s finalist round, with six contestants fighting for the title. (Well, not really halfway, but season 10 doesn’t boast a half-competitor to make it official. Plus since when have entertainment journalists been good at math?) So, with just weeks left in the competition, I’m finding myself looking back on the season thus far, which has waffled between having a clear-cut favorite to being completely devoid of any frontrunner at all. And, boy, how things have changed! If you asked me back when we were first introduced to Idol‘s Top 13 who would become Your. American. Idol., I would have named our jazzy Fraggle Rock Casey without any hesitation. Now, I can’t help thinking (sadly) that Casey’s niched days are numbered.

Instead, someone I wrote off as an Adam Lambert-wannabe back in March has emerged as not only a contender for the crown, but one of my favorite contestants in several seasons as well: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 28 2011 12:55 PM ET

'American Idol': Who will go home tonight? Will Scotty, James, or Lauren land in the bottom three?

by Adam B. Vary

Tags: About Last Night, American Idol, Reality TV, Television, About Last Night, American Idol, Reality TV, Television, TV

Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

With just six contestants left on American Idol, the contestant’s ability to deliver sock-it-to-ya performances each week is becoming increasingly vital to their chances of sticking around. Of the six, two have been in the bottom three a total of six times (Haley and Jacob); one hasn’t been in the bottom three since the week he was saved by the judges (Casey); and three have never once known the particular shame of sitting on the silver stools of doom (Scotty, James, and Lauren). Could last night’s performances from the Carole King songbook shake up the competition and send someone from that latter trio into danger? Could Randy deliver a single critique last night without coming off like a inane twerp? READ FULL STORY »

Apr 28 2011 11:23 AM ET

'American Idol' behind the scenes: 'Idol' coaches talk the Top 6 -- EXCLUSIVE

by John Young

Tags: American Idol, An EW Exclusive!, Reality TV, Television, American Idol, Reality TV, Television, TV

Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Continuing our exclusive series, American Idol vocal coach and arranger Debra Byrd and associate music director and arranger Michael Orland sat down with EW to discuss Wednesday night’s Top 6 performance show. For a decade, Byrd and Orland have been on the front lines with the contestants, from Hollywood Week to the grand finale in May. The two work with the contestants on their respective songs, helping them shine on the Idol stage and in front of a national TV audience. Click through to read their take on this week’s “Songs of Carole King” show, including why Lauren cried at the end of her critique, why Scotty has stopped holding his microphone sideways, and why Orland lets Casey get away with ad-libbing parts of his performances. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 28 2011 08:03 AM ET

'American Idol' on the scene for Top 6 performance night: James wins over the Idoldome, and Lauren's onstage admirer vanishes

by John Young

Tags: American Idol, On the Scene, Reality TV, Television, American Idol, Reality TV, Television, TV

Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox/PictureGroup

This season of American Idol has been desperately lacking in authentic “moments,” perhaps because Nigel Lythgoe and his cohorts have been so busy generating manufactured gags. (We’ll be talking later about Brett, the 19-year-old “audience member” who joined Lauren onstage.) But last night’s performance show, during which the Top 6 tackled the storied songbook of Carole King, delivered a few refreshingly genuine moments.

One highlight — James’ a-cappella opening to the 1960 tune “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” — was so significant that it could potentially affect the finale’s outcome. (Watch out, Scotty.) And other sights, such as the sprightly footwork of Jacob or the way Haley handled a sudden technical difficulty, provided more insight into who these singers are than any pre-recorded segment could.

Having been to the Idoldome more times now than Randy Jackson has uttered the word “gauntlet,” I occasionally forget the unique privilege it is to watch this competition unfold in person. But as I scanned the homemade posters in the balcony, I came across one that said just two words: “I’m Here.” And during a show like last night’s, I’m glad I was. Here are my on-the-scene observations: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 27 2011 08:00 PM ET

'American Idol': Discuss Carole King night!

by Annie Barrett

Tags: American Idol, Reality TV, American Idol, Reality TV, TV

Update: Annie’s recap is live!

Now that we’ve debated which songs the Top 6 should sing from the Carole King songbook, it’s time to watch our young contenders fling themselves at the feet of the three Fates… and then gossip about ‘em! Chat here about American Idol‘s performance show, then come back later for my full recap and a detailed on-the-scene report. THIS! Is Entertainment Weekly.

Apr 27 2011 02:55 PM ET

'American Idol': What should the Top 6 sing for Carole King week? What should they avoid?

by Adam B. Vary

Tags: American Idol, Musics, Reality TV, Television, American Idol, Reality TV, Television, TV

Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox; Inset: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Like I’m sure many of you, when I heard this week’s theme on American Idol was the songs of Carole King, I could not roll my eyes fast enough. Yes, of course, King is one of the great American songwriters of the last 50 years, but she isn’t exactly the most cutting-edge musician when it comes to finding a recording artist for today’s airwaves. But then I started scouring the woman’s catalogue for my weekly picks of what the Idol contestants should (and should not) sing, and I realized that, A of all, King’s songs are built to be covered by other singers. (James Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, The Carpenters, Isaac Hayes, Donny Hathaway, and Roberta Flack have all charted hits from King’s songs.) And B of all, she managed to write songs that fit each of the Idol Top 6 like a hand to a glove. So consider me 100 percent more excited for tonight’s show. Check out my picks below for the individual performances — since we don’t yet know how the Idols will be pairing off to sing their duets, I’ll leave those suggestions to you in the comments. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 26 2011 03:16 PM ET

'The Voice': How will it compare to the 472 other singing competition shows out there?

by Aly Semigran

Tags: American Idol, Christina Aguilera, Reality TV, The Voice, This Could Be Interesting..., American Idol, Reality TV, TV

Image Credit: Lewis Jacobs/NBC

Between the 90-minute episode of Glee and the series premiere of The Voice, it seems like everyone will be singing on prime time television tonight. Except, presumably the cast of The Good Wife. But, again, just a presumption.

Of course, people singing on TV is nothing new. Since the days of Star Search (the original, not that one hosted by Arsenio Hall. That one goes in the vault of things that never happened. Saved By The Bell: The College Years lives there too), we’ve tuned in to watch regular folk sing their hearts out on national television. Will they be mercilessly criticized? Or become the next big thing, right before our eyes? Now, there’s The Voice, the new NBC series in which a panel of celebrity judges — or coaches, as they’ll be known — simply listen to contestants (their backs are turned to the talent while they perform, in case you haven’t seen NBC’s bazillion promos) to ensure it’s all about, well, the voice. But, even with The Voice‘s line-up of relatively relevant music stars — including Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green — as well as a refreshing concept, the series still really has a lot of singing reality shows to live up to. And, in case you missed the past decade, there have been scads of ‘em. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 22 2011 09:00 AM ET

Christoph Waltz murders Stefano Langone, criticizes 'Idol' judging in 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' skit

by Kate Ward

Tags: American Idol, Late Night, Television, American Idol, Television, TV

Poor Stefano Langone. Not only was he eliminated from American Idol last night, he was also eliminated permanently — from life! — on last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In a clever, well-edited sketch, Inglourious Basterds Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, promoting this weekend’s Water for Elephants, helped illustrate American Idol‘s one jarring season 10 flaw: The judges’ lack of critical judging. Channeling Simon Cowell with a tight black T-shirt, Waltz tells Langone: “Stefano, you were terrible. You were naive, you were unlistenable. You were actually abhorrent. You failed. And therefore, you leave me no choice to sentence you to death by firing squad.” (Remind me never to invite Watlz over for dessert.) Then Waltz addresses judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler: “When someone is terrible, you don’t inflate a malfunctioning ego. You don’t shower undeserved praise on the lobotomized squeakbox. No, you eliminate him. Permanently.”

Harsh, yes, but just what this season of Idol needs. Christoph Waltz for Idol 2012? Check out the the clip below, in which Waltz also wears bright pink pants and performs a rendition of the Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out?”. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 22 2011 04:25 AM ET

'American Idol': The Stefano and James bromance, and tweens! tweens! tweens! on the scene of Top 7 results night

by Adam B. Vary

Tags: About Last Night, American Idol, Everything Reminds Us of 'Friends', On the Scene, Reality TV, Television, About Last Night, American Idol, Reality TV, Television, TV

Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox/PictureGroup

My snark demon Smirkelstiltskin may forsake me for saying this, but I’m actually starting to appreciate tween girls. Hear me out. As the American Idol Top 7 took to the Idoldome for the first time during last night’s live results show, a small platoon of tween girls ensconced in the peanut gallery rear balcony became nearly apoplectic with excitement — for Jacob. I know! Jacob! At one point, Jacob possibly threw a glance in their general direction, and when one of the girls was absolutely convinced it was mean directly for her, she began jumping, clapping and squealing as she turned to her friends, who themselves were jumping, clapping, squealing, and turning towards her. I had seen this behavior before, but in well-lit movies about high school, on Disney Channel shows, and by Ross on Friends — I did not realize until that moment that actual humans could get that specifically exhilarated.

Another example: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 21 2011 08:00 PM ET

'American Idol': Top 7's eliminated singer is....

by Annie Barrett

Tags: American Idol, Reality TV, American Idol, Reality TV, TV

Update: Annie’s recap is live

Aside from Jacob’s earpiece playing the wrong song during “Songs from the 21st Century” Night, Wednesday’s Idol was pretty much disaster-free. Casey Abrams kissed J. Lo, Haley Reinhart attempted Adele, and James Durbin raised the bar of crazy at the end of his “Uprising.” Will their risks pay off? Someone‘s gotta get the boot. Earlier today, your votes overwhelmingly suggested that either Jacob Lusk or Stefano Langone would be heading to the stools of doom or, ultimately, home. Chat about the results show here, and I’ll update this post as soon as we know which of the top 7 has been eliminated. READ FULL STORY »