tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1513268 TypePad tag:typepad.com,2003:post-50323450 2008-05-23T13:41:06-07:00 2008-05-23T20:41:06Z

David Cook beat David Archuleta by 12 million votes to claim the American Idol crown on Wednesday (May 21) night, but don't expect Cook to explain his margin of victory.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-4.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-50323296 2008-05-23T13:35:56-07:00 2008-05-23T20:35:56Z

Might David Archuleta's second place finish on FOX's American Idol be the music profession's loss and the medical profession's gain?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-3.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-50281066 2008-05-22T14:16:29-07:00 2008-05-22T21:21:27Z

For all of the talk about drooping American Idol ratings this season, Wednesday (May 21) night's final Wednesday results show, the coronation of David Cook, was up over last season's climax.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-f.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-50245202 2008-05-21T19:40:26-07:00 2008-05-22T02:40:26Z

After a five-month season leading up to a seemingly preordained Top Two, American Idol reached its orgiastic two-hour finale on Wednesday (May 21) night. As the show began, only one thing was certain... David's got it in the bag. Follow along to the stunning conclusion...

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/recap-a-new-ame.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-50179162 2008-05-20T18:25:29-07:00 2008-05-21T01:25:29Z

The first part of Tuesday (May 20) night's American Idol Finale begins with what may be the cheesiest moment in the show's seven season history. Ringmaster Michael Buffer, accompanied by the theme from Rocky, introduces David Cook and David Archuleta. Yes, we've gotten ready to rumble, but who would gain the advantage in this not-quite-heavyweight showdown?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/recap-america-2.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49970152 2008-05-16T11:00:12-07:00 2008-05-16T18:00:12Z

Apparently a two-night guest mentor gig on American Idol is worth more than a brief clip package.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-p.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49937210 2008-05-15T16:06:16-07:00 2008-05-15T23:06:16Z

Talking with reporters on Thursday (May 15) morning to announce the network's 2008-09 schedule, FOX executives had to take some time to defend TV's most watched show, a little show we call American Idol.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/fox-exec-happy.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49928710 2008-05-15T13:55:28-07:00 2008-05-15T20:55:28Z

With most of America expecting a David versus David finale on American Idol, even Syesha Mercado wasn't surprised by her elimination on Wednesday (May 14) night's episode.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-2.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49882202 2008-05-14T19:17:10-07:00 2008-05-15T02:17:10Z

David versus David. Cook versus Archuleta. The High School Student versus The Rocker. We're a week away from the American Idol Finale that we've been cruising toward for at least two months. Would Wednesday (May 14) night's results episode be as perfunctory as it seemed? Or would Syesha Mercado be able to play spoiler?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/recap-america-1.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49833320 2008-05-13T18:44:25-07:00 2008-05-14T01:44:25Z

After a day that started at 5 a.m. with ABC's upfront presentation, this writer is ready to settle in for a soothing trio of songs from the American Idol Top Three, a group described, in Breakfast Club-esque fashion as The High School Student, The Actress and The Bartender. Would Tuesday's (May 13) performances clarify the race to the finale or just muddy the waters?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/recap-thrice-as.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49762090 2008-05-12T14:28:31-07:00 2008-05-12T21:28:31Z

I don't care about David Archuleta's father and his ongoing behind-the-scenes status on American Idol.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-v.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49604136 2008-05-08T14:16:14-07:00 2008-05-08T21:16:14Z

Jason Castro wasn't broken up about leaving American Idol on Wednesday (May 7), but he wasn't exactly in a hurry to depart either, know what he means?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-1.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49562246 2008-05-07T19:16:37-07:00 2008-05-08T02:16:37Z

With the American Idol finale just two weeks away, Wednesday (May 7) night's hour saw the show cut its talent pool down to the Top Three. Would the most logical suspect (Jason Castro) go home, or did Idol have another surprise in store?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/recap-dread-ful.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49502452 2008-05-06T18:29:23-07:00 2008-05-07T01:29:23Z

Tuesday (May 6) night's American Idol theme is about as vague and wide-open as the Top Four could possibly hope for. Songs from the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame? What does that even mean? Working from the Hall's list of 500 influential hits, surely everybody should find great tracks to sing, right? Let's see...

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/recap-american.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49296554 2008-05-01T14:33:01-07:00 2008-05-01T21:33:01Z

Every contestant has a unique and individual reason for going on American Idol. Many crave music industry stardom, but some would be satisfied with Broadway or a movie role or the chance to eventually host a two-bit cable reality series. For Wednesday's (April 30) bootee Brooke White, though, it almost sounds like Idol was a form of therapy.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/05/american-idol-e.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49249024 2008-04-30T19:26:01-07:00 2008-05-01T17:09:25Z

After a Tuesday show that saw the musical attributes of the American Idol Top Five overshadowed by Paula Abdul's perplexing and new-found ability to predict the future, which contestant would be heading home on Wednesday (April 30)? And why can't Paula just tell us the results in advance and save me an hour?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/recap-white-pow.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49201038 2008-04-29T18:38:36-07:00 2008-04-30T02:06:28Z

I got no thrills from Dolly Parton Night. Mariah Carey Night didn't thrill me at all. So tell me why, should it be right, that I'm hoping to get a kick out of Neil Diamond Night? Would the American Idol Tuesday (April 29) Two-fer Tribute to the Jazz Singer live up to my expectations?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/recap-america-5.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-49180576 2008-04-29T10:37:27-07:00 2008-04-29T17:37:27Z

If you just look at the numbers, FOX's American Idol remains TV's most watched show by a wide margin, but if you read the media reports, the show is sinking like the Titanic. So it's no wonder that FOX is contemplating making a few changes to the popular format.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/is-american-ido.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-48982072 2008-04-24T14:18:42-07:00 2008-04-24T21:18:42Z

Before American Idol viewers ever met Carly Smithson on this season's shows, dedicated fans already felt like they'd known the San Diego-based Irish chanteuse for years.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/american-idol-3.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-48925660 2008-04-23T19:43:54-07:00 2008-04-24T04:40:20Z

Tuesday's Andrew Lloyd Webber Night seemed to bring out the best in some American Idol contestants (Syesha Mercado and Carly Smithson, for example) and the worst in others (like Brooke White and Jason Castro). Would that make any difference in Wednesday's (April 23) results? Hint: No.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/recap-america-4.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-48900356 2008-04-23T10:24:58-07:00 2008-04-23T17:24:58Z

In his far-longer-than-deserved run on the fifth season of American Idol, Kevin Covais was nicknamed Chicken Little, after the main character in the somewhat successful animated movie. This summer, Covais will take a stab at becoming a movie star on his own.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/meet-kevin-cova.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-48869814 2008-04-22T18:32:30-07:00 2008-04-23T01:33:11Z

The American Idol producers have set their second straight booby-trap. As hard as it was for the Idol singers to handle Mariah Carey last week, Tuesday's (April 22) challenge is The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a theme whose difficulty is matched only by its irrelevance in terms of finding a contemporary popular artist.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/the-american-id.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-48605156 2008-04-17T12:10:34-07:00 2008-04-17T21:35:55Z

Before proceeding with the exit interview with Kristy Lee Cook, the latest eliminated American Idol contestant, it's necessary to get an update on her poor barrel horse, the animal whose sale facilitated this whole Idol journey.

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/american-idol-2.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-48568466 2008-04-16T19:26:23-07:00 2008-04-17T02:26:23Z

We did it, America! It's April 16, which means we survived both Tax Day and Mariah Carey Night on American Idol. All things considered, both big days could have been better, but they also could have been worse. But would Wednesday night's Idol results leave viewers as shocked as they were by the departure of Michael Johns last week? Let's see...

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/recap-too-many.html tag:typepad.com,2003:post-48509590 2008-04-15T18:33:48-07:00 2008-04-16T02:27:38Z

For six-and-a-half seasons now, American Idol contestants have heard near-weekly lectures from the judges about how covering certain singers -- Whitney, Christina, Celine, Mariah -- is just a recipe for disaster, Tuesday (April 15) night's show is dedicated entirely to karaoke versions of Mariah Carey hits. Gee. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, right?

Daniel Fienberg http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2008/04/recap-america-3.html