American Idol (2002– ) User Reviews

The Show That Won't Go Away

[happipuppi13 · 3/10 · 16 May 2022]

I've had really little interest or even a great liking for this show. I did laugh hysterically at the first few seasons of horrible singers that auditioned but after that, I didn't care about the show or it's contest at all.

Reason being is, in my opinion, even though a selected number of these performers "do" have the talent and many with very good voices... I don't feel this is a legitimate way of trying to "hit the big time."

What, "really" have most of these singers done to earn or deserve to be famous? Some of them have have been in school chorus or maybe even done a localized solo career / band maybe. They are ametuers and the judges way of practically slamming for their inexperience turns my stomach.

Especially when singers try to do songs before their time. Nine out of ten times, I feel no emotional connection with their renditions of classic pop & rock songs. In my view,they don't have the proper emotional connection to the songs or understand their meaning.

Making their performance seem empty. After a few years of it, it was nothing short of redundant.

I don't mind what others here call the contestant's "sob stories" , as they are legitimate and great difficulties they have experienced in their lives. (No doubt anyone in charge at the show has these things checked out, beofre alowing them to tell the story. )

I doubt it has any bearing on the judges decision, it's just the contestants telling about themselves. They win for singing , not for being the most pitiful.

I will say, Kelly clarkson still stands out to me as the most talented and I was glad to see her become more than just anohter female who sings about love, break ups or power ballads like, "A Moment Like This."

I've been a bit more than suspicous in the past watching winners after her, just 'fly' immediately up the Billboard Hot 1200 or even debut at the top suddenly and then fall and become immediately forgotten (except Carrie Undrwood, who's the only other that's truly lasted.)

Still, even her debut at #1 that knock Mariah Carey out of the top for a wek back in 2005, seemed fixed, although I know Billboard magzine would get invesigted if that werre the case.

Anyhow, as for the judges? Cowell is no longer there and was horribly mean at times and other judges ranked from understanding to almost as bad as Cowell. I know they want to be honest with these hopefuls but , lighten up.

Imagine, when Cowell ws still there. A young girl, self-conscious about herself already and he makes her feel 10 times worse about herself and her weight. He's changed since then and is on America's Got Talent.

Anyhow, the show by now has become quite repetitive and not even the bad singers could make me tune in again. It's a shadow of it's former self. I enjoyed it for awhile, for the things I mentioned but not anymore, I've moved on.

I'm surprised that America hasn't moved on from this. (END.)

Yer basic love/hate relationship - more hate than love by 2013

[Rogue-32 · 5/10 · 25 April 2007]

I've watched every episode of this show from its inception, and, sadly but not surprisingly, I have seen it become more and more cheesy as the years go by.

For starters, Seacrest has to go. If you look up the word smarmy in the dictionary, you will see his picture. And the judges are all a joke at this point - they've become caricatures of themselves, it seems, and nothing they have to say means anything, nor do the viewers' votes actually count, since I believe the producers of the show will not have someone win whom they do not approve of (meaning someone they can't control). The contestants are still good, though, which is why I still watch: I'm a sucker for a talent show and I do love seeing someone do really well, as Jordin is doing this year. And let's face it, the show is an incredible spectacle - the modern equivalent of, say, the gladiators in the Colosseum.

Last night, they kicked off the "Idol Gives Back" thing, where, for every vote cast, ten cents would be donated by the shows' sponsors - Ford, Coca Cola, and A T & T - toward the world's hunger crisis. Seacrest stood there, in all his sanctimonious smarminess, preaching to us about how we were not just voting this week, we're "saving lives." I'm all for ending hunger in all countries of the world, beginning with our country, don't get me wrong, but this to me feels like a very underhanded and sleazy way to obtain more publicity for the show.

The corporations in question have enough money to fully end all world hunger if they wanted; they do not need our votes to contribute to that cause. And it would be a tax write-off for them, to boot. By telling people they are "saving lives" by voting, the producers of the show (and Seacrest, as their shamelessly pathetic talking head - he's like Max Headroom without the soul) are implying that the opposite is true, as well: if you don't vote, you are NOT saving lives.

About the show itself: the worst thing is how they never let the contestants sing a whole song, they have to condense their song into a minute and a half, and then they get criticized for not having enough feeling or enough conviction or enough personality, blah blah blah. A song has to be complete in order for it to legitimately 'live' - the emotion or feeling of it has to build and you cannot genuinely do that when you're forced to cut out most of it. They have time on the show for all sorts of crap, but they can't make time for the performers to actually SING. I commend anyone who can come on week after week and manage to give a credible performance under these conditions, something the judges don't seem to acknowledge or appreciate.

Where will it all end? I predict a few more seasons, and then hopefully the network will take the show off before it deteriorates into an even tackier circus than it's already become.

Added 3/6/13 ~ This season hopefully will be the last. Brutal.

Added 2/21/14 ~ Still going' on. It's a joke at this point; everybody feels it. Keith Urban, J-Lo and Harry Connick Jr. are very strange judges, not much credibility there, and of course Seacrest is still on board, still smarmy as ever. This time the question is : WHEN will it all end? I couldn't even watch the preliminary episodes this year, the whole selection process and the Hollywood thing, the group challenge, blah blah blah. Cannot stand how they play with the contestants' heads, when they call them in to That Room, making them walk from the elevator all the way to their desk in Outer Mongolia, only to torture them with the 'well, you know we can't pick everyone and we're really sorry, we don't know how to tell you this...(long dramatic pause)...but you're going through!" Pathetic.

Gets Old... Fast...

[fearfulofspiders · 4/10 · 27 September 2008]

I started watching American Idol when it first premiered, fortunately, I stopped after the tryouts were done. Once the competition itself begins, there's nothing that makes it intriguing, funny, or suspenseful.

The judges are a good trio of people. Paula is the judge people would look for when it's down to a sympathy vote. Randy Jackson can be, too, but he tends to have a different taste than his two counterparts. Simon is the best, simply because he does not BS anyone, and his criticisms are true, even if they do come off as harsh.

Well, that's all there is to say about American Idol that is positive. Other than the judges and the tryouts, there is nothing that garners this multiple viewings, and I am quite shocked at the phenomenon it has become. None of the songs are the contestants' own, just the voice -- so what makes them an artist?

I highly advise anyone who is on the fence about watching this show, to stay on it. Unless your into the tryouts, skip this.

Optimistic to the Point of Foolishness

[FrutyOatyBar42 · 1 May 2006]

There comes a time in every reasonable man's life when he must sit down in his living room and watch an episode of American Idol. Truth is I'm not a reasonable man. Or even a reasonable woman, now that I think about it. I have, however, watched an episode of American Idol and will go so far as to say that I have religiously watched three seasons of it. First season was great. Second season was good. During third season, I got wiser and realized that the show wasn't as good anymore, but still I watched. It had lost its magic, its X-Factor, you could say. During fourth season, I watched four or five episodes. By then, I had rediscovered sitcom television. Now comes fifth season, and the inevitable disappointment that lurks around the show reappears again. Yet, people still watch the show because they are too brainwashed not to.

Then again, what else is there to watch on Tuesdays? Or Wednesdays. Or Thursdays. Or any other night of the week, for that matter. I mean, why watch anything else when I can watch the new season or reruns of past performances made readily available via my Handy-Dandy DVD player? (Yes, we bought the Best of Season One. So sue me.) I must say that American Idol has become predictable. A "dude, man, dawg" from Randy Jackson. An "I just want to eat you up and make all our viewers sick to their stomachs with my infinite well of gaga comments" from Paula Abdul. And "Enter sarcastic, British remark here" from Simon Cowell. Cue Ryan Seacrest's idiotic retort and make-the-girls-swoon smile. The contestants are the same: air-headed bimbos, wannabe rockers, real rockers, melt-the-camera-with-a-stare heartthrobs, belters, and the like. For goodness sake, give us something good to watch again! Every now and then we get fantastic singers like Kelly Clarkson, Tamira Grey, and Clay Aiken. The rest are a little more or less than mediocre. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I heard Ruben, Fantasia, or Diana on the radio. Don't even mention Justin Guarini. What a waste of his perfectly good talent. The only thing Idol can do for you is give you a year, if that, of fame, then send you on back home to the karaoke bars in Oneida, Tennessee. Tough break, kids.

It is just unfair to see what they do to these contestants. They get the same amount of men as they do women to avoid any legal problems about gender bias. Completely bogus! Sometimes, there are better men than some of the women on that show (and vice versa), so why should they be cut just so the Idol producers won't be accused of discrimination on the cover of tabloids. The real crime is letting a bunch of less-than-worthy singers get on just to balance things out. And then some of the singers get scolded for song choices. Oh, no, Heaven forbid someone does a Mariah or a Whitney! No, no! Those are untouchable. I just have my fingers crossed that one contestant will finally lash out at Randy, saying, "Well, Mr. Jackson, you give me a list of songs I'm not supposed to do, and I'll make sure I sing them all just for you." Even if they are really good, nothing is as good as the original, so just give up.

The producers of Idol need to take a step back from the show they've created and look at what it has become: a rigged popularity contest. The only thing Idol is good for is delaying House episodes for weeks at a time. What a waste of an Emmy and Golden Globe winning show. Producers, you need some variety in this show. Just keep your fingers crossed that you choose the correct Idol this time, as you seem to think that America is too intellectually inept to do so themselves. Greenlighting this overstayed-it's-welcomed show for another season and thinking that the same people are still going to love it would be optimistic to the point of foolishness. But then again, what do I know? I'm just a kid with a television and a telephone.

Worst of the worst of competition shows

[lovettstough · 1/10 · 25 March 2019]

This is the worst of the worst of competition shows. The whole format & everything is all wrong. Like with the group round..........which is totally stupid unless your original audition was as a group then every contestant there is praying and hoping to win and make their big break as an individual, not a group. The Voice does it best with the battle rounds with only two contestants up singing together. There is nothing fair towards or for the contestants at all on American Idol. There is a reason The Voice has been voted and rated the number one competition show on television the last however many years in a row. American Idol is unfair towards all its contestants and American Idol is stupid and sucks.

Dear God, what has become of television?

[dokter_hew · 1/10 · 20 February 2007]

Shows like this are the reason that so much of television sucks these days. It is nothing more than an over-hyped, overblown televised karaoke contest and people watch this crap in droves. I've totally lost all faith in humanity for allowing a show like this to go on and on and on.Years ago, a show like this (think 'Star Search' for example) was the exception rather than the norm. Now it's all you can find. Reality programming has completely ruined TV. Granted, there's still some pretty decent scripted shows on the tube (Monk, 30 Rock, My Name is Earl, The Office) but as long as people line up mindlessly to watch muck like 'American Idol', I'm afraid it's only gonna get worse. I weep for the future.

What a joke

[irishninja1980 · 1/10 · 5 January 2007]

It's sad that so many talented, hard-working musicians out there have been busting their ass for years and can't get a break, while any soulless, talentless suburban poser can go on what is basically a nationally-televised karaoke contest, become the flavor of the month, and then be forgotten about six months later(unless you're Kelly Clarkson). I know it's already been said by another poster, but it's true: some of these people have played in small bands or had local solo gigs, some of them have potential, but the majority of them are a bunch of wannabes with no real talent. They don't have the dedication and desire it takes to build a lasting career in a notoriously fickle industry: they're in it for their 15 minutes of fame, and nothing more.

Elegant proof that the RIAA still does not get "it"...

[mentalcritic · 2/10 · 5 May 2007]

The basic premise behind American Idol, a talent show in which a large number of contestants battle it out to get a recording contract, is one that has inspired a number of films and television shows. The problem is that the idea is one rooted firmly in the 1960s, when the Recording Industry Assocation of America was relevant, people's tastes were so underdeveloped that one genre would capture most of the world's attention, and the so-called top ten actually reflected what people were buying. But the revelations of the past twenty or so years have turned that entire notion on its head. No longer do we believe that the top ten is actually a reflection of our tastes (in fact many articles have been published to the effect that the pop charts are rigged), and the RIAA no longer has sole control over how we hear artists. In fact, independent, underground recording labels have seen their business explode tenfold since the MP3 revolution, and for the first time in history, the advertising of recording artists has truly become a level playing field.

All of this translates into increasing irrelevance for talent quests like American Idol. Much of the commentary I hear about the show revolves around the three judges, who are in essence the real stars. Do not look at them, however, they are not the reason the show is entirely irrelevant. In fact, they are about the only connection the show really has to the present-day market for music. Paula Abdul reflects the overly optimistic approach that many of the RIAA's marketeers suffer from, Randy Jackson highlights the irrelevance, and Simon Cowell repeats exactly what the more intelligent section of the buying public is thinking. Indeed, for all the complaints about Cowell's cruelty, he is about the only thing worth watching the show for because of his unflinching ability to slap hopefuls in the face with reality. To quote his comments to William Hung, you cannot sing, you cannot dance, so what do you want us to say? Ironically, aside from one contestant, Hung has achieved far more recognition and fame due to his uncynical, earnest attitude than anyone else who has appeared on the show.

Which brings me to the contestants themselves. To partly quote Alexei Sayle, I might be stupid like, but I happen to know that butchering the material of other people is never going to give a fair indication of how much ability an artist has. Although Kelly Clarkson's post-Idol material is irrelevant to me, it also demonstrates she has enjoyed the most success of the lot because she can create something of her own. Covers of top-forty filler songs that were not even relevant to the audience back then will prove very little. Even the selection of songs is so tepid as to be monotonous. Once you have heard one talentless pretty face cover Whitney Houston, you have heard them all. At least on the versus albums released by the black metal underground, they challenged each other to cover each other's songs, as well as songs by an artist that they would otherwise not normally play, such as GGFH or Frank Zappa. Even something as straightforward as Glenn Danzig would baffle the imagination-challenged idiots of Idol.

The scary thing is that after nine out of ten finalists fail to get so much as a mention after their term on the show is over, the powers behind it still want to blame piracy for ailing record sales. They fail to understand something that the independents and underground long ago incorporated into their market strategy. You see, as much as I disparage the Beatles or their ilk for being the original boy bands, they made it big when they did because at that time, nobody had heard anything like them. They had the right combination of novelty and semi-solid songwriting that also propelled bands like Black Sabbath or Bathory to notoriety. Kelly Clarkson, Justin Gaurini, and everyone that has followed after them, just have nothing to offer that is exceptional or unique. Twenty-five years ago, when radio fare was not nearly so narrow or limited, acts like Devo created a stir because they pushed envelopes. Funk-punk, electronica, and punk-pop had observers that were of the same age then as Cowell is now asking what was next.

So when I say that the present crop of pop musicians that shows like Idol attempt to promote as if they are the hottest thing since tofu are little more than a damp squib, I want you to understand my full meaning. As I stated differently in my comments about Metallicrap's recent aping of Spinal Tap, the world has moved on from this kind of thing. Maybe it is time that Simon Fuller and his cronies realised this, because I am kind of certain that Simon Cowell and to a lesser extent Paula Abdul have realised it. Indeed, as I sit here listening to Danzig, a man who has more creativity in his fingernails than every single contestant who has been on every iteration of Idol worldwide would have in their collective bodies, I find something is quite rotten in the state of the music industry. While I wish Clarkson the best in her efforts to exploit the fame that Idol brought her, I really just wish these people would raise their bar concurrently with the way the ears of the wider world have raised theirs. At the very least, we could get Red Symons of Skyhooks fame to judge a few shows. With him and Cowell on the same panel, contestants might spontaneously combust from the ego-checks.

American Idol is a two out of ten show. Nobody on the show save Cowell seems to know a thing.

4.5 out of 10? Really?

[waluigiiscool · 10/10 · 3 November 2017]

Honestly I am surprised with all these laughable reviews of this show because I thought this show would be rated much higher. Maybe all the reviewers were Idol rejects.

But in all honesty, I think that American Idol is one of the best shows television has ever produced. It was a show that everyone could watch and enjoy and cheer and root for. It was fun, any age could join in and it was a phenomenon in its heyday and there was nothing else like it before or since in my short time on this planet.

The judges were compelling. The great singers were perfectly great and the terrible singers were appropriately terrible. Ryan Seacrest was always so reliable as a host too.

Yeah the show saw better days and it did get "worse" as it went on, but the core essence of the show, finding the next big superstar, was evergreen, and that's why the show is and will always be great, and besides until The Voice and other such shows it produced so many stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken, Phillip Phillips, just to name a few.

Thank you American Idol. I love you and I always will love you.

I'm with Simon.

[Son_of_Mansfield · 7/10 · 17 April 2007]

Far too much of this show is pathetic. From the cheap looking stage to the under choreographed numbers to the sugary judges, this show frequently misses the mark. But there are some fine singers. Most of them have the pipes, it's just control that they lack, a good singer knows when to not use their powerful voice. Sometimes, in some numbers, you can see what the show was intended to be, a display of top talent fighting for break. The high note for me is the unflinching honesty of Simon Cowell. While Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul spent too much time glad handing decent performances, but Simon keeps his emotions in check, trying to dispense advice. Too often he is put down by window dresser Ryan Secrest for not having fun. It's refreshing to listen to someone try to honestly dissect a performance and for those who think he is too harsh, a lot of people will be telling these contestants that they aren't good enough, it's time for them move past their natural talent and grow thicker skin. The greatest performers have a work ethic to match their talent, that is what should be idolized.

Please go away

[kmustain36 · 1/10 · 24 February 2010]

I enjoyed the show in the first couple of seasons and enjoyed some of the products that came from this show. But, it is time for this show to go away. I know I have an unpopular view, but I am sick and tired of 3 days of programming being taken up for this seemingly endless parade of over inflated egos and a line up of people whom I never want to see on TV ever again. Not to mention the relentless beating of the dead horse with Idol Rewind and the hours spent on showcasing the worst of the worst in American Karaoke. There has to be a better way for these kids to be discovered and/or rejected than taking up our time and patience. Please go quietly into that good night and don't look back. I think the American public is ready for scripted dramas and comedies again.

Despite Its Flaws, It's Better Than The Voice

[TylerJones165 · 9/10 · 5 March 2019]

I grew up watching American Idol. I watched it with my family and even though I LOVE the show and I still watch it on ABC, there's a few things that ABC can do to make the show greater.

1. Cut the back stories: Everybody has a story. It's just life. The earlier seasons of Idol never really cared to focus too much on the contestants' back stories. All they cared about was the package and presence of the person auditioning in the room. You only knew the person's back story if it was an extreme case. The later seasons of Idol (2013-now), all they focus on is back story and it's not uncommon to see the judges put through somebody that still needs more work just because of sympathy. This loses the show's respect and credibility a bit because story and talent are two separate entities and the judges try to make it a part of their package.

2. Bring back the bad auditions: What made American Idol a staple was the people that thought they could sing and thought they were a star and just made absolute fools out of themselves. It was genuine. It was relatable. It was enjoyable to watch. Again, with the later seasons of American Idol (2013-now), they took that out to only focus on the good singers. While, the good singers are entertaining, there's no balance to fully appreciate the good singers. When it's over-saturated like it is now, every good singer just seems average.

3. Bring back the theme song: Beginning in Season 16, ABC decided to not play the iconic theme song that also provided American Idol with its identity. It's just a logo with just some popular song playing. It's boring and it's not distinctive. It's not American Idol without it. Even if it's an updated version, play the theme song before each episode! (Although they did play the shortened version of the original song before the results.)

4. Live Show Debacle: ABC heavily rushed the live shows this past season. It went from Top 14 to Top 10 to Top 7 to Top 5 and then the finale (which had THREE contestants in it). It should be gradual like the FOX seasons. The finale should only have two contestants in it. The more live shows they have, the more interested we are in the contestants and the show as a whole. Plus, this past finale wasn't held at the Dolby Theater or some special theater. It was held in the regular studio they had the regular live shows in. Again, it's not American Idol without a BIG finale.

5. The judging panel should ALWAYS include one record executive. They will give the show an A&R perspective on what an artist should be. Plus, they know the music industry inside and out. They know what sells and doesn't sell. An artist can only give out so much before they're out of their zone. Plus, the ABC judges are WAY too easy on the contestants. They need to understand, just like the original panel, that average isn't good enough. If they can't handle harsh criticism now, they will only be let down after the show. The real world is a harsh and unforgiving place and they need to be adequately prepared for that now. It's not nitpicking, it's just called life.

6. Follow the Succeeding Season Order: When American Idol switched over to ABC, they started numerically back to Season 1, even though it should've been Season 16. For their next season, they should really be calling it Season 18, not Season 3.

Other than that, I love American Idol and will continue to support this amazing show. Despite its' flaws, this show better reflects the music industry than The Voice.

Better than X-Factor by a long shot

[film_fan_emma · 7/10 · 6 February 2007]

Being from the UK and having watched X Factor, a show similar to AI, I think that it is much less exploitative than than our UK equivalent. However, it is slightly worrying to see that contestants are at times being mocked indirectly...this didn't use to be the case in previous seasons. Personally I think that many reality shows are beginning to adopt this sort of 'us and them' stance, where the audience feels superior to the brave contestant on-screen. Although, I am glad to say that this isn't the case with AI! I think the show has got better this season, partly due to a new fresh-faced presenter: Cat Deeley. She gives the show a new spin and has livened it up a little. The last few weeks of each season which run up to the final are always great, as the standard of singing and performance becomes sky - high. You end up seeing some really talented singers, and often a diverse collection of finalists. This makes for some great shows.

With the auditions aspect of the show, these are always entertaining as they are often comical and we can joke about the not-so-great singers (even though this may seem like I contradict what I said earlier, I mean in a light-hearted manner, of course!). Seeing the contestants walk in dressed in crazy costumes and perform mad dance routines, I would say American Idol is a good show, if you're looking for some fun entertainment.

Fake

[MrGroovilicious · 1/10 · 2 June 2016]

Won't say who it was out of respect for their privacy, but a friend of mine went to audition for this atrocity to television.

They didn't even let this person audition. They filmed everything up to the top 20 on the same day and made it look real. When everyone comes for the audition, they actually mean they're going to decide who will actually audition. They will randomly tell people they can go just because they look funny and think it would be hilarious to see on TV, and don't let other people go because they look to ordinary or they don't look TV material. Then they let some of the people they chose sing for 5 seconds, and if that 5 seconds doesn't please them they don't get to audition with the judges and move on. This happened with my friend.

This is INSULTING. Many artists would feel privileged to have the opportunity to express their paintbrush for the world to see. This "opportunity" was a broken promise, never intending to be fulfilled in the first place.

Not to mention, the show just wasn't interesting.

Gives "Reality" TV a whole new meaning.

[thelonewolf74 · 19 February 2004]

If it weren't for Simon Cowell, I have to wonder how many people would watch this show. I admit this says something of my character, but he's the reason I watch this show. His blunt matter of fact, tell-it-like-is approach to telling the unvarnished truth to the no-talent wannabes who audition is something I find very refreshing. Especially when their egos and attitudes are directly proportional to the extent that they suck -- meaning the more they suck, the more ego and attitude they tend to have. (Not with all, but certainly a lot of them) Then there are others who don't have attitude and are devastated by criticism and can be seen in tears later, and even if they were bad I feel a little sorry for them. But that's simply the reality, of the music business and if these kids can't handle it, then they shouldn't be trying to forge a career as a musical artist.

That's reality, and Simon gives them this much needed reality check. It's reality TV in every sense of the word.

Used to like it, but now it is really formulaic, tired and predictable

[TheLittleSongbird · 2/10 · 12 May 2010]

No doubt there are some really talented singers such as David Cook, Chris Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson, but others were ludicrously bad. Then there were others with annoying personalities, Tatiana I am looking at you. However, while I was addicted to it at first mainly because of the hilarious auditions, I stopped watching it after it became increasingly formulaic, tired and predictable.

Simon's put downs no longer became funny, instead they became increasingly insulting, and Paula became increasingly inaudible over the screaming audience. The choreography was often under-rehearsed, the singers sometimes pick the wrong songs for their voice(a huge danger when it comes to singing), the lighting was dim, the clothes that some contestants wear either in auditions(ie. Bikini Girl and the guy in the Pink Rabbit suit) or on the live shows(ie. Carly) are either too revealing or unflattering and I am not a fan of Ryan Seacrest's presenting. Also the show is very exploitative, I know the X Factor is quite exploitative, but this brings the meaning of exploitation to a whole new level. It is not entirely the show's fault though, the media are mostly to blame too. Then there are those who don't make it through Hollywood or the live shows, they cry and say that American Idol is their life. Give me a break, I am not trying to sound insensitive, but there are many many good things you can do with your life other than go on American Idol, if you really want to sing, join a pop band, a musical theatre or opera group, you may find they are better in terms of time value.

Overall, formulaic, tired and predictable, not to mention exploitative. 2/10 for the auditions. Bethany Cox

Such a sad occasion when superstars like Richie buckle down and do what he is told.

[bajaharley · 1/10 · 25 April 2022]

The judges have become so transparent, I have seen some horrible singers get rave reviews from the judges, it has become clear that all of this is staged ahead of time. I expect this from perry and bryan but never expected it from Richie. Also the name needs to be changed from American idol to anyone idol as people come from all over the world to participate.

Used to be good.

[blimeystone · 2/10 · 5 January 2019]

The new super short format sucks. It gives zero time for the audience to fall in love with the singers. Fix it.

Absolutely Ridiculous

[RiffRaffMcKinley · 1/10 · 20 January 2008]

It is wholly inexplicable and mystifying that a nation could be so obsessed with a show like this, a worthless, fifteen-minutes-of-fame, trashy-so-it's-bad piece of garbage that captivates more collective attention than the average Presidential race. Constantly, I am forced to hide in my room when this show comes on because it overrides all other shows where I live. With paper-thin walls, I can hear every minute of it: the generic pop voices, the horrible auditions at the beginning of every season that throw pathos out the window, and the growing absurdity of the judge's sweetness, complacency, and ruthlessness. It is by far a more rewarding experience to watch unintelligent programs mock this show than it is to watch it itself-- "Shrek 2," anyone? And "American Idol Rewind," a vapid expansion of the show's early years, is even more heinous and pointless. Yet people continue to watch the competition, from talentless winners (Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks, etc.) to unique, worthwhile losers (Daughtry!) But guess what. Even Chris Daughtry hates it when people mention his appearance on this show. Because it is, in its own, Idol way, a puerile, infantile, mindless and banal exercise in finding the next unlikely hero to throw through the ruthless pop culture gum-ball machine. A word of advice to the people who actually tune in every January: go and watch the classic 1981 movie musical "Shock Treatment." Once you see its town overwhelmed to Orwellian proportions by TV shows like this, you will see the error of your remote-controlled ways.

American Idol Videos

[lfrankel-3 · 10/10 · 26 April 2007]

I am a huge fan of American Idol and have been watching the show since season one. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are the only really talented winners, Chris Daughtry should be in that group as well but sadly he ended his idol run finishing a disappointing 4th. Kelly's performance on the Idol Gives Back telethon special was so good, I do not think any other contestant can ever truly compete with her. Hopefullythis year, the true star, Jordin Sparks, will take the idol crown. I thought for a second we were going to have another daughtry moment this year when Seacrest let us all think that Jordin was going home, but thankfully that did not happen. You can view ALL of the American Idol Season 6 performances on SceneMaker.net in case you missed an episode or are located in country that gets Idol a little later on.

Auditions Are Good. The Rest? Meh.(SPOILERS)

[I_Am_The_Taylrus · 7/10 · 20 January 2007]

SPOILERS

I love the auditions. I mean, I feel really sorry for some people at the auditions. For instance, these two guys named Jonathan and Kenneth. I felt bad that they did not make it. Some people you feel sorry for, others you do not feel sorry for. I never like the people of when they get rejected, they swear about twenty times and keep swearing until it is amusing to watch.

Here is the basis of the show. People around the ages of sixteen to twenty-nine sing in front of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell. If they have a good singing voice they go to Hollywood. People keep on singing until the audience votes for their favorite contestant. Whoever has the least votes is eliminated. They keep doing that until they have a winner who will receive fame. There is also a runner-up.

Overall, this is a pretty good show. The auditions are the best. I also felt that although really cruel at times, Simon is the only judge that knows what he's doing. For your enjoyment, here are the past idols. Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Burrito, Carrie Undewood, and Taylor Hicks. Anyway, this is a somewhat enjoyable show to watch, put is annoying and boring at times.

7/10

Recommended Shows: America's Got Talent.

Popular yes, but that doesn't make it good . . .

[Spacejockey426 · 1/10 · 24 February 2008]

Sure the show pulls high ratings, provokes fevered discussion and might even be fun for its viewers. They've assembled a tight trio of judges with good natured rapport and enough of a comprehensive critical eye to weed through the shallow, fame-craving riff-raff . . . however . . . I am here to bury Idol, not to praise it! At most the show is a guilty pleasure, as hollowly insubstantial as it is trite. It's best fit as passive, ultimately forgettable recreation for a preadolescent audience with no other life concern except perhaps their schoolwork. The final irony is that all of the "American Idols" picked by the judges and the viewers, with the possible exception of Carrie Underwood, have sooner or later vanished from the formerly adoring public eye that created them! Despite this repeated repudiation of its mere existence, the ungainly behemoth that is American Idol nonetheless slouches towards us each seasonal cycle, waiting to be born anew in all its false idolatric 'splendor' . . .

*American Idol*- A success!

[annalealyon-1 · 10/10 · 13 April 2007]

I have been a fan since the beginning, and it is truly addictive! Over the years, more and more fans have joined the American Idol fan list! This show is all about bringing all kinds of different singing personalities, and choosing the next big star. The good thing about this show is that if your favorite is really good in the top 10, sometimes they also become very successful, even if they don't win. This show is America's chance to bring a nobody to fame! I think the positive thing about this show is the fact that America has a part in it! When one of my favorites become famous, I also feel lucky that I "knew him before he was famous." Also, the variety of judges really puts different perspective on the singing each week. Paula, a sweetheart who finds good in everyone, can always find a positive thing to say about the singer. Randy usually finds good, but sometimes will just be straight up about it. Simon will most definitely tell you how it is. He doesn't be around the bush at all, and that's what America loves about that type of judge. Through the seasons, we've seen everyday, talented singers, become superstars! The success of the first American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, has put the show on top ever since! Millions of votes every week, six seasons, doesn't that say something about the show?

This is Reality TV

[Gafaddict · 7/10 · 23 September 2006]

When you look down at it and really, American Idol is ultimately the most influential, and one of the finest, reality shows currently on air. It features a panel of judges who actually know what they're talking about, picks out fine talent for their competition, and most importantly, gives everybody an equal chance. But hey, even if you hate the show, what's better than watching people embarrass themselves on live TV?

However critics and other luminaries of the reality show genre constantly put the show down because a good percentage of its fan base is composed of teen-girl fanatics who obsess over the show and somewhat ruin its name. If they would ignore this one aspect of the show and get down to what it is actually made of, they'd discover that this is purely good television.

A cancer

[GordonRiese · 1/10 · 18 February 2007]

Too bad you can't give stuff zeros. That would've been my vote because American Idol is a cancer to society and the world. The only people worse than the arrogant judges and attention-whoring contestants are the followers. Nobody can justify the popularity of the show, and yet there are people who believe this thing matters more than the Oklahoma-Oregon football game. Another disgusting aspect of the show is that people think it's funny. Believe me, it's as funny as seeing Oklahoma slaughter Texas A&M 77-0 in a football game or USC pound the Sooners themselves, 55-19. There is no difference between humiliating somebody on a football field and crushing somebody who can't sing but is trying. Anyone with those beliefs should die or be my slaves. If American Idol is around in 2015, you'll know something is wrong. Those who disagree ought to suffer endlessly. There are actual forms of entertainment that people can watch over this crap. Stuff like Oz, Saved by the Bell, Jackass, Family Guy.