The fifth season of American Idol is off to an astonishing start with ratings higher than ever through the audition and Hollywood rounds. Will interest continue throughout the season? Will compelling new stars emerge? Will superstar Kelly Clarkson's cooling toward the show that put her on the map — she didn't even mention Idol in her Grammy acceptance speech — have any impact? Will people ever tire of the Simon/Paula/Randy routine? Is Ryan Seacrest the new Dick Clark?
We have been following the action on and off the set all season:
American Idol 5 Winner Taylor Hicks Signs Recording Deal With Idol Machine
Hicks delivered into the arms of Simon Fuller and Clive Davis.
Posted to Music by Eric Olsen on June 1, 2006 01:49 PM
American Idol: The Very Best Of Katharine McPhee
A compilation of Katharine McPhee's most memorable performances and why America caught the McPheever.
Posted to Video by Chris Evans on May 29, 2006 08:26 AM
TV Review: American Idol - Triumph of the Hicks
Two hours of tasteless TV genius in which “Can you top this?” alternates with “What were they thinking?”
Posted to Video by Chancelucky on May 28, 2006 09:21 PM
Soul Patrol Push Hicks To American Idol 2006
Taylor Hicks brings fans back a real American Idol. The Soul Patrol rides on.
Posted to Video by Jewels Richardson on May 27, 2006 11:02 PM
Live Joins Chris Daughtry for American Idol Season Finale Performance
You can see the Chris Daughtry/Live collaboration right here if you missed it.
Posted to Music by DJRadiohead on May 25, 2006 07:07 PM
American Idol Video Clips - Step Right Up, Get Your Finale Clips
After a season of speculation and more than 63 million votes, 29-year-old Alabama native Taylor Hicks is the new "American Idol." And the world has been watching. A bunch...
Posted to Video by Gary Baker on May 25, 2006 05:22 PM
TV Review: American Idol Finale - Forget Taylor Hicks, It Was All About Prince
Last night's American Idol finale was all about the surprise apperance of Prince.
Posted to Video by Greasy Guide on May 25, 2006 10:10 AM
American Idol Finale: Idols 'R' Us
The finale airs tonight. Whoever wins, we lose.
Posted to Video by Ray Ellis on May 24, 2006 06:43 PM
TV Review: American Idol Watch - Worst Finale Ever
Lack of show-stopping talent and bad song choices deliver us a DOA American Idol finale.
Posted to Video by Chris Evans on May 24, 2006 06:50 AM
Article comments
1 - Dan
On my blog I attend not to critize the show American Idol, but to use it to give my readers a positive experience. There is more then enough of attention grabbing headlines and so called negativity from the main stream media. Lets build thing up!
2 - Eric Olsen
we have come not to bury Caesar but to praise him
3 - CAROLINA
DANMM I LOVE SIMON , HES SO REAL , IF YOU CANT STAND COWELL , YOU CANT STAND THE TRUE , YOU WONT STAND ME ! I SPEACK THE TRUE , IM STRAIGHT !WE NEED MORE REAL PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY!IF EVERYBODY WAS LIKE SIMON COWELL. PEOPLE WOULD GET THEIR ISSUE FIX BY TALKING AND NOT BY BEATING EACHOTHER UP.
ONE LOVE SIMON
RESPECT
4 - Idolblogger
Kellie Pickler aint so bad
5 - Eric Olsen
I will tell Paula about this
6 - 12345678910
SIMON IS A FUCKING DICK HEAD
7 - Shemeal
Me not know much about this Arminian Idol thing. I do know this Simon Cowell English, maybe from England and not from Dick Head. Think that is off the coast of Yafrektoo. Maybe you ment Denmark. Not into code like 12345678910. Nice chaten with ya. by
8 - Eric Olsen
Shemeal, you know, Dick Head is right next to Penis Point over on the other side of the island
9 - Victor Plenty
American Idol has an island now? Won't Survivor sue them for infringement or something?
10 - chancelucky
arrrrghhh :} you're right, I checked her discography and I can't find her ever recording the thing. Wow....wonder what song I'd been listening to...I do think of her as small voiced or at least not a big brassy style singer. not small voiced Blossom Dearie small voiced, but very much a musician's singer. I remember picking up her Where is Love? album (I assume I at least have that one right) and thinking not my kind of music, but wow I just want to listen to this over and over.
many thanks for catching my mistake.
11 - OccultJam
wow, people really care about american idol. you know, it doesn't matter who wins. in a few years no one will remember them anyway. just like no one cares about menudo, the new kids on the block, or tiffany, no one will care about ruben, or fantasia or kelly clarkson. what gets me about these people is that they are competing by singing other peoples' songs. they don't play instruments and they aren't lyrical poets. being able to sing better than someone else is just as lucrative and important as being able to tie your shoe faster or better than someone. so when a contestant wins they get a record deal? how many winners other than kelly clarkson have made multiple albums and sold them for a profit? nobody should care about this show, it's talentless.
12 - Silas Kain
I'll always remember Taylor Hicks. He's my American Idol.
13 - Eric Olsen
our coverage of AI has been sensational: thanks all!
It looks to me like an all-male final three: Katharine was pretty lame last night
14 - DANIELLE MARTINEZ
AMERICAN IDOL IS OVER 4 ME I LOVE CHRIS
HE SING SO DAME GOOD AND HES GONE THAT
REALLY SUCKS NOT TO MEANCHIN AWWWWWWWWW
HES A HOTIE
15 - idlerocker
NO DOUBT, CHRIS WAS THE BEST PART OF AI! Im not going to watch any more this season... that was just too much.
hey idol fans, theres still a good show out there though. check out www.whowillcare.net for a great spoof of AI!!
16 - roppp
simon isa fucking dick head
17 - JB
Taylor is awesome...
18 - Mark Bellinghaus
To comment #11:
It seems funny that you are putting them down, when you seem to know their names so well, the one you mention: menudo, the new kids on the block, or tiffany, no one will care about ruben, or fantasia or kelly clarkson.
Did you realize that at the last Grammy Awards a former Idol actually WON?!
No--these people haven proven their clear talent and more though--nerves! Cause you can be blessed with talend, but if you don't have the right nerves, to stand the pressure, you lose.
American Idol is not only entertaining and fun--it also teaches us lesson after lesson. You may be sure that this or that person wins, just to see them booted off in the very next show. That is the beauty of it. The surprise effect. My personal favorite to win: That guy with the grey hair, who does a bit of Joe Cocker, or is it Ray Charles? What's his name again? He is so refreshing different than all the others and his age is actually working for him in my opinion. He made a transformation like Betty Davin as "Apple Annie" (she turned from bump to classy lady) and this just in regarding a very strange fact that somehow has to do with this famous show. This guy never even made it into the contest and has reached celebrity status and I bet has sold more records than Russell Crowe with his awful singing attempt! American Idol Rocks, give that grey haired guy the trophy. He deserves it for having guts to even try.
CASTROVILLE, Calif. - Off-key pop idol William Hung has something new to crow about: He's being crowned "Artichoke King" in the small city that calls itself "artichoke capital of the world."
Hung, 23, the earnest crooner who butchered Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" tune on "American Idol," will ride in a parade Sunday and perform new versions of the Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA" and the Billy Ray Cyrus line-dancing anthem "Achy Breaky Heart."
Marilyn Monroe was the first "Artichoke Queen" when she was selected in 1947.
The Castroville Artichoke Festival features an artichoke eating contest, music and plenty of artichokes for sale.
19 - Bliffle
I saw the last 3 contestants in the semifinal and concluded that they were so plain as to not justify watching the final.