The joke ever since Simon left is, “What do the judges even do anymore?” Well, tonight that concern was apt. Very apt. Because the judges never spoke. They didn’t break down individual performances...

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about ‘Idol’ it’s that the best doesn’t usually win. Last night, the clear standout of this year’s season, Joshua Ledet, was unceremoniously shown the door while ...

Finally, the producers find a way to fill time that’s actually worth mentioning. Traditionally, we’ve saved the big homecoming clip packages for the final three results show, but with two hours to ...

Every year there’s a lurker. That one contestant that you think is going home each week but somehow, improbably, outlasts several other potential favorites and ends up around way longer than you ev...

Hollie Cavanagh couldn't make America love her. The 18-year-old McKinney, Texas, native received the fewest number of votes on this week's American Idol and was sent home Thursday night. Hollie's...

Another night. Another ridiculous two duets to save time. Another week of my intro hunger strike against the ‘Idol’ producers for failing to find a more competitive way to round out the show. I thi...

I guess country isn’t for the whole country. I’ve been working under the assumption all year that Skylar was a real contender mostly due to her musical genre: Country/Western. We’ve seen for the la...

Until they stop with these ridiculous duets and trios and whatevers that I will not mention any further, I am protesting by not writing an intro. I’m sure you’re heartbroken.

It’s rare that a contestant commits the three mortal sins of ‘Idol’. In the world of shilling for America’s votes, there are three ways to fall into the doghouse. Three separate kisses of death tha...

Ryan Seacrest is a professional, so viewers probably didn't realize he was sick as a dog last night while hosting American Idol. There was talk that Ryan could miss his first American Idol show in ...

Wither Jimmy? If there’s one thing about this ‘Idol’ season that’s been universally great, it’s been anything involving Jimmy Iovine. He may have been getting his sealegs ready last year, but this ...

14 songs. 14 songs! By my count, that’s a record for ‘Idol’. Granted, my count includes no research, no basis and really no thought. Just Ryan’s telling me that it’s so.

This is the reason the judges’ save was invented. I’ve been piping all year that big-voiced singers like Jessica Sanchez always go home in a “shocker.” Every single year we have some major contende...

Let’s get one thing straight. I can’t stand these duets and trios and whatever it is they’re doing. ‘Idol’ is bloated enough with its pre-taped packages, product placements and other nonsense that ...

When I don’t predict it, I get it right. All year I’ve been saying that each results show would be DeAndre’s last. He never seemed to get traction, he was never very good, and he just didn’t stand ...

Tonight the theme seemed to be song selection. Steve hammered it home. Jimmy was very concerned with it. It was on everybody’s minds. You’d think with the entire decade of the 80s to choose a song ...

And another favorite goes home. I’ve had such a terrible run with my favorites since I picked Kelly Clarkson as my favorite contestant in the first season. It’s been nothing but disaster since.

Stevie Nicks. Singer. Artist. Legend. Creepiest ‘Idol’ mentor of all time. Stevie brought it all to the director’s chairs for her first stint in the ‘Idol’ mentor role. A lot of singing. Some cryin...

Really, it all comes down to being memorable. Erika was the most non-descript contestant in this competition. Seriously, I didn’t realize she was on the show until every time she came up. Her being...

What matters more? The singing or the preparation to sing? On this show, it seems like the latter is king. What is ostensibly America’s biggest singing competition has transformed this season into ...

America continues to get it right. One of my big problems with ‘Idol’ is that the voters have a tendency to delay the inevitable. Like with Kristy Lee Cook, or the redheaded guy who looked like me,...

For me, the big story of last night was the ouster of Jermaine. Not his actually being voted off, but the fact that the producers decided to show his receiving the news on the show. People have bee...

Through one show, I’m just about spot on. Maybe I’m good, or maybe it was just an easy week, but, for once, I completely called the bottom two and even this week’s castoff. Jeremy Rosado became the...

Last night was ‘American Idol’s’ 400th show, and in honor of that, I’m going to list the top 400 contestants of all time. In order.

Let me just start off by saying Enough with the Adele! Enough with the Adele! Look, I like Adele as much as the next guy. She’s got some great tunes on “21”, but after Brielle Von Hugel became the ...

Welcome back judges! After last night, I was worried they were gone. Based on their commentary, there was no difference between any of the guys. If you didn’t watch the show, and just read my break...

Let’s face it, we’ve had enough of not hearing anybody sing on this show. Let’s just get right to the recap, shall we?

Now that we know the top 24 (or at least most of it), it’s time to unleash a new tradition here in my ‘American Idol’ column: The Molly DeWolf Swenson Scale.

I guess singing doesn’t really matter anymore? For what seems like the 47th straight night, ‘Idol’ basically put the actual singing on the back-burner last night for an incredibly long introduction...

‘American Idol’ went back in time last night with a trip to the 50s for Vegas Night.