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Revision as of 11:40, 27 February 2009

American Idol season 8
Created bySimon Fuller
Directed byKen Warwick
Bruce Gowers
StarringSimon Cowell
Paula Abdul
Randy Jackson
Kara DioGuardi
Ryan Seacrest
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes15
Production
Executive producersKen Warwick
Simon Fuller
Running timeVaries
Original release
NetworkFox Broadcasting Company
ReleaseJanuary 13 –
May 20, 2009

The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson are judges once again, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. This season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol panel.[1]

Changes from Season 7

Several changes were planned for season 8. Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly stated that Idol will feature fewer "William Hung-like" contestants and "funny auditions", and will quickly move its focus to the potential singers during the earlier stages of the competition, thus moving the season at a faster pace. As part of this thrust, there will be a return to half-hour result shows, which was done prior to season 5.[2] Mike Darnell, president of Fox's alternative programming, also revealed that the contestants will be more emotional and viewers will learn more about the contestants. The show will continue to delve deeper into the contestants' past than was done in American Idol (season 7).[3]

Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe confirmed that he is leaving Idol, stating that he is moving on with So You Think You Can Dance and his new show with Simon Fuller Superstars of Dance. Ken Warwick became the new executive producer for the show.[4] and in a change to the judging panel, the show will now feature a permanent fourth judge — songwriter and record producer Kara DioGuardi. The professional songwriter has collaborated with many pop artists and superstars including Celine Dion, Hilary Duff, Enrique Iglesias, Leona Lewis and Christina Aguilera and has produced several Top 40 hits. The songwriter also has worked with many of the American Idol alums and winners, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, David Archuleta and recent winner David Cook.[5]

Additionally, Idol Gives Back will not return this season. This is due to the ongoing economic crisis and recession, as Idol officials did not feel comfortable asking viewers to donate as many are struggling financially.[6]

The semifinals will see the biggest change as the Wild Card round returns for the first time since American Idol (season 3). There will also be 36 semi-finalists instead of 24 who will be divided into 3. The groups of 12 will perform on Tuesday. At the conclusion of each results show on Wednesday, the male and female semifinalists who received the highest number of home viewers votes for their previous night's performance will instantly become a Top 12 finalist. In addition, another semifinalist that had received the next-highest number of votes after the performance episode — regardless of gender — will also become a finalist.

In the Wild Card round, the fourth-place finishers from each of the three semifinal rounds will return, along with other eliminated semifinalists who are chosen by the judges. Around 9 or 10 previously-eliminated contestants will be chosen to compete in the Wild Card round. The judges will pick the 3 performers left that they consider the best. No voting by the public will be done at this stage.[7]

Early process

Regional auditions phase

Locations

Auditions were held in the following cities:[8]

Audition City Date Audition Venue
San Francisco, California[9] July 17, 2008 Cow Palace
Louisville, Kentucky[10] July 21, 2008 Freedom Hall
Glendale, Arizona[11] July 25, 2008 Jobing.com Arena
Salt Lake City, Utah July 29, 2008 EnergySolutions Arena
San Juan, Puerto Rico August 2, 2008 Coliseo de Puerto Rico
Kansas City, Missouri August 8, 2008 Kemper Arena
Jacksonville, Florida August 13, 2008 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
East Rutherford, New Jersey August 19, 2008 IZOD Center

Contestants are required to be between the ages 16 and 28 on July 15, 2008 and eligible to work in the United States. Contestants are ineligible if they were part of the top 40 from previous seasons (exception being for those who reached the top 50 from season 7), if they hold recording or management contracts or if they are not U.S. citizens or landed immigrants (i.e. temporary residents).

Hollywood phase

For this season, the Hollywood round moved to the Kodak Theatre, which was previously used for the season finale from seasons 1 and 3–6, from the Orpheum Theatre. In addition, the Hollywood round was extended to two weeks.

In the first round, the 147 contestants each sang a short solo performance of any song. The next part had the remaining 107 contestants performing in a group performance. The 72 contestants that passed group day, performed one more solo song, and then the judges split them into four groups, and only left 54. The final 54 then went to the "judges' mansion" in Los Angeles for the final results, and the Top 36 were announced. Some contestants had a sing-off to determine who would go through the top 36.

Semi-finalists

The top 36 were announced in a special two-hour broadcast on Wednesday, February 11, 2009. [12] The song theme is shared by 3 groups of performers: Billboard Hot 100 Hits to Date

Male semi-finalists

Semi-Final #1

Semi-Final #2

Semi-Final #3

  • Ju'Not Joyner (born November 6, 1982) is a 26-year-old from Bowie, Maryland, auditioned in New York. He previously auditioned in Philadelphia for Season 7 and made it to Hollywood Week, but he was cut in the second round.
  • Scott MacIntyre (born June 22, 1985) is a 23-year-old pianist from Scottsdale, Arizona, auditioned in Phoenix, Arizona who is almost blind. MacIntyre also plays several instruments including the piano. Classically trained, he has been internationally profiled on various TV affiliates such as CNN, national and local news, radio, and print media as pianist, vocalist, and songwriter.
  • Nathaniel Marshall (born September 19, 1989) is a 19-year-old from Malone, New York, auditioned in New York. He grew up with various family members in New York because his mother was in jail for most of his life. He is probably best known for his emotional outbursts during Hollywood week.
  • Alex Wagner-Trugman (born June 4, 1989) is a 19-year-old from Studio City, California, auditioned in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a sophomore at the University of Miami. He previously sung in his closet so he wouldn't disturb his family but was forced to stop because an infection caused by the mold inside.

Female semi-finalists

Semi-Final #1

Semi-Final #2

  • Mishavonna Henson (born July 25, 1990) is a 18-year-old from Irvine, California, who auditioned in Phoenix, Arizona. She previously auditioned in San Diego, California for Season 7 and made it to Hollywood Week, but she was cut in the second round. Before auditioning for American Idol, she was best known for her appearances in Frasier, and Charlie Lawrence, working as an actress. She is also the sister of young actor, Micah Henson.

Semi-Final #3

  • Felicia Barton (born March 6, 1982) is a 26-year-old from Virginia Beach, Virginia. She auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky, and sang "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. She made it to the Top 54 and was eliminated, but was brought back to replace Joanna Pacitti, who was disqualified.

Finalists

Results night performances

Group song

Other performances

In addition, songs are played during the elimination night to promote an artist, single, album, or the show itself.

Week Performer(s) Song Title Notes
Top 36/Group 1 Carly Smithson
Michael Johns 		"The Letter" Live performance[16]
Top 36/Group 2 Brooke White "Hold Up My Heart" Live performance[17]

Elimination chart

Legend
Did Not Perform Female Male Top 36 Wild Card Top 12 Winner
Stage: Semi-Finals Wild Card Finals
Week: 2/18 2/26+ 3/4 3/5 3/11 3/18 3/25 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6 5/13 5/20
Place Contestant Result
Alexis Grace Top 12
Adam Lambert Top 12
Kris Allen Top 12
Allison Iraheta Top 12
Michael Sarver Top 12
Danny Gokey Top 12
Arianna Afsar
Felicia Barton
Kendall Beard
Ju'Not Joyner
Scott MacIntyre
Nathaniel Marshall
Kristen McNamara
Jorge Nuñez
Lil Rounds
Von Smith
Taylor Vaifanua
Alex Wagner-Trugman
Semi-
Final 2 		Matt Breitzke Elim*
Megan Corkrey
Matt Giraud
Mishavonna Henson
Kai Kalama
Jesse Langseth
Nick Mitchell
Jasmine Murray
Jeanine Vailes
Semi-
Final 1 		Anne Marie Boskovich Elim*
Ricky Braddy
Casey Carlson
Tatiana Del Toro
Anoop Desai
Stephen Fowler
Brent Keith
Jackie Tohn
Stevie Wright

* All eliminated contestants are subject to returning in the 'Wild card' event.

+ Due to the 2009 Speech to the Joint Session of the United States Congress on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, the performance show was moved to Wednesday, February 25 and the results show was moved to Thursday, February 26.

Controversies

  • Joanna Pacitti, who was originally selected as a semi-finalist, created controversy due to her being previously signed to A&M and Geffen Records. Later, she was found to have been having a "private relationship" with 19 Management. She was later disqualified, and replaced by Felicia Barton.[18]

Releases

iTunes

Same as the previous season, American Idol exclusively partnered with iTunes. To keep the competition fair, and prevent any revealing of the number of songs bought during voting, they are not available until the result show (Wednesdays). The iTunes exclusives includes:

  • Top 36 live performances videos and audios
  • Top 12 live performances videos and audios, as well as studio recordings

References

  1. ^ Songwriter Kara DioGuardi joins 'American Idol' panel
  2. ^ OK! Magazine - First for Celebrity News - Less is More for Next Season of American Idol
  3. ^ ‘Idol's’ emotional focus will highlight Abdul
  4. ^ Lythgoe Leaving 'American Idol'
  5. ^ Associated Press
  6. ^ American Idol Shelves "Give Back" Show for 2009 Season
  7. ^ Fox releases 'American Idol' schedule, confirms format changes
  8. ^ Who Will Be The Next Singing Superstar? - American Idol News
  9. ^ Release says San Francisco; arena is actually in Daly City, though part of its property is in San Francisco.
  10. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/22/american-idol-finds-a-major-label-burnout-kentucky-derby-hats-at-louisville-auditions/ The filmed session before the judges was actually at Churchill Downs.
  11. ^ Release says Phoenix; arena is actually in Glendale.
  12. ^ http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/1564 Top 36 Revealed!
  13. ^ Where You've Seen 11 Idol Contestants Before EW.com, February 16, 2009
  14. ^ Paula Abdul (2009-02-17). "Hollywood Week 2 Wednesday". American Idol. Season 8. Fox Broadcasting Company. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050415/news_m1m15tfrpen.html
  16. ^ 'American Idol': Michael Johns, Carly Smithson to duet on Wednesday night
  17. ^ Brooke White Will Perform Her iTunes Single “Hold Up My Heart” on Tomorrow’s Results Show
  18. ^ Joanna Pacitti DISQUALIFIED From "American Idol"
Preceded by American Idol
Season 8 (2009) 		Succeeded by
Season 9 (2010)
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