American Idol Episode Guide

Recaps and reviews by episode

The 2008 season:

• Finale night (5/21)
  
  Spoiler alert: David wins.
• The final two (5/20)
  
  Boxing my ears.
• 3 become 2 (5/14)
  
  No girls allowed.
• Top 3: Choices (5/13)
  
  Judges choose one song, contestents choose a second, producers choose a third. Viewers choose to watch Democratic Party Nomination returns.
• 4 become 3 (5/7)
  
  Taylor Hicks postage stamp?
• Top 4: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame night (5/6)
  
  Lay off the pot, dude.
• 5 become 4 (4/30)
  
  Another weepy cut.
• Top 5: Neil Diamond (4/29)
  
  Paula Abdul: drunk or just crazy?
• 6 become 5 (4/23)
  
  Because Andrew Lloyd Webber is soooo relevant to pop music. On the other hand (and unlike these kiddies), he has talent.
• Top 6: Andrew Lloyd Webber night (4/22)
  
  Simon's message from first 14 weeks of show: Don't sound like Broadway. Week 15: Broadway.
• 7 become 6 (4/16)
  
  David Archuleta hijinks. That scamp.
• Top 7: Mariah Carey night (4/15)
  
  Mariah Carey is bigger than Elvis, which should tell you something about the relevance of Soundscan charts.
• 8 become 7 (4/10)
  
  That's right. No immunity like last year. Hard cheese!
• Idol Gives Back (4/9)
  
  Idol Gives Back...but takes so much more.
• Top 8: Inspirational Song night (4/8)
  
  In which someone plays a ukulele.
• 9 become 8 (4/2)
  
  Oh, how the season drags on...
• Top 9: Dolly Parton night (4/1)
  
  What's this? Frank's beginning to like Michael Johns?
• 10 become 9 (3/26)
  
  A surprising cut.
• Top 10: Birth year night (3/25)
  
  1987? Who else feels old? Show of hands...
• 11 become 10 (3/19)
  
  Find out which 10 will go on tour...a tour that you will seriously not buy tickets for. Seriously.
• Top 11: Beatles night redux (3/19)
  
  More grave-spinning as Beatles night gets a part 2. (plus a Simon pic)
• 12 become 11 (3/12)
  
  Oh no, a Beatles medley for the 'group song.'
• Top 12: Beatles night (3/11)
  
  Some of these damn kids honestly haven't listened to Beatles songs prior to this week. What is happening to this world?
• 16 become 12 (3/6)
  
  So many tears...as if this were significant in some way.
• Top 16: Girls' night (3/5)
  
  More 'most embarrassing moments' during 80s night.
• Top 16: Guys' night (3/4)
  
  Always something there to annoy me during 80s night.
• 20 become 16 (2/28)
  
  Potsie goes home. No!!!!!
• Top 20: Girls' night (2/27)
  
  One hot mess.
• Top 20: Guy's night (2/26)
  
  David Archuleta makes Frank cry during 70s night.
• 24 become 20 (2/21)
  
  Conspiracy theories abound in this elimination.
• Top 24: Girl's night (2/20)
  
  More songs from the 1960s sung with higher voices...except, you know, some of those guys have pretty high voices too.
• Top 24: Guy's night (2/19)
  
  Songs from the 1960s.
• American Idol: Hollywood Week (2/13)
  
  The top 24 are finalized. This episode opens in Egypt. Egypt?
• American Idol: Hollywood Week (2/12)
  
  Hollywood Week...er, Day. No more groups.
• American Idol: Auditions Recap (2/6)
  
  The best of the rest...or is it the worst of the rest?
• American Idol: Atlanta Recap (2/5)
  
  I'm not homeless; I just live in my car.
• American Idol: Miami Recap (1/30)
  
  Gloria Estefan sucks.
• American Idol: Nebraska Recap (1/29)
  
  Rockin the devil horns.
• American Idol: South Carolina Recap (1/23)
  
  It's sooooo different from North Carolina.
• American Idol: San Diego Recap (1/22)
  
  Sometimes I get so lost in my imaginations.
• American Idol: Dallas Recap (1/16)
  
  I am your brother, your best friend forever.
• American Idol: Philadelphia Recap (1/15)
  
  This show is still on? Yes it is. The 2008 premiere.

The 2007 season:

• American Idol: Minneapolis Recap (1/16)
  
  The chill of winter in the air. The added pounds of holiday calories. And the sweet scent of American Idol.
• American Idol: Seattle Recap (1/17)
  
  Rainy Days and Idiots Always Get Me Down.
• American Idol: Memphis Recap (1/23)
  
  Burning Love is the First Sign of Infection.
• American Idol: New York Recap (1/24)
  
  Crazy Little Thing Called Crazy.
• American Idol: Alabama Auditions (1/29)
  
  Dawn of the Dull.
• American Idol: Los Angeles Auditions (1/30)
  
  California Dreamin'...of a Good Episode?!?
• American Idol: Texas Auditions (2/6)
  
  There's No Basement at the Alamo, But There Are Jail Cells in San Antonio
• American Idol Auditions conclude (2/7)
  
  The best of the rest.
• Hollywood week, part one (2/13)
  
  172 Fools Enter, 40 Fools Leave.
• Hollywood week, part two (2/14)
  
  Songs from the big chair--of death!
• Semi-finals round one: boys (2/20)
  
  Boys will be boys--who suck.
• Semi-finals round one: girls (2/21)
  
  In which the girls kick the boys' untalented arses.
• Semi-finals round one: results (2/22)
  
  Farewell to the first forgettable four.
• Semi-finals round two: guys (2/27)
  
  Songs in the key of zzzzzz.
• Semi-finals round two: girls (2/28)
  
  What's going on behind that curtain?
• Semi-finals round two: results (3/1)
  
  We love you, you suck, get out.
• Semi-finals round three: guys (3/6)
  
  Worst. Episode. Ever.
• Semi-finals round three: girls (3/7)
  
  In which a winner is declared -- by me.
• Semi-finals: conclusion (3/8)
  
  Shock and awww, no they didn't...
• Top 12: Diana Ross Night (3/13)
  
  Stop! In the name of all that's holy.
• Top 12: Results (3/14)
  
  Twelve become 11. Diana Ross sings...badly.
• Top 11: British Invasion Night (3/20)
  
  Send in the Brits. Don't bother, they're here.
• Top 11: Results (3/21)
  
  Eleven become 10.
• Top 10: Gwen Stefani Night (3/27)
  
  Don't speak. Also, don't sing--Sligh!
• Top 10: Results (3/28)
  
  Ten become nine.
• Top 9: Tony Bennett Night (4/3)
  
  You know I go from rags to bitches
• Top 9: Results (4/4)
  
  Nine become eight.
• Top 8: Jennifer Lopez Night (4/10)
  
  You know I go from rags to bitches
• Top 8: Results (4/11)
  
  Eight become seven.
• Top 7: Martina McBride Night (4/17)
  
  Martina McWhoNow?
• Top 7: Results (4/18)
  
  Seven become six.
• Top 6: Idol Gives Back (4/24)
  
  Poverty special. Woot!
• Top 6: Idol Gives Back Results (4/25)
  
  Six become five...or do they?
• Top 6: Bon Jovi Night (5/1)
  
  Wanted dead or...no, dead's fine.
• Top 6: Results (5/2)
  
  Six become four.
• Top 4: Bee Gees Night (5/8)
  
  Wanted dead or...no, dead's fine.
• Top 4: Results (5/9)
  
  Four become three.
• Top Three: Triple Threat Night (5/15)
  
  The power of three will make you flee.
• Top 3: Results (5/16)
  
  Three become two.
• Top Two: Finals (5/22)
  
  Finally!
• Top Two: Finale (5/23)
  
  The season finale of 2007. Jordin Sparks vs. Blake Lewis.

The 2006 season:

• American Idol: Tuesday ReviewCap (3/21)
  
  It’s ’50s night, the perfect time for Barry Manilow to plug his new album…
• American Idol: Wednesday ReviewCap (3/22)
  
  The Manilow sings, as 11 become 10…
• American Idol: Tuesday ReviewCap (3/28)
  
  Tonight’s theme is “Songs of the 21st Century.” My theme is “I’ve Never Heard This Song.”
• American Idol: Wednesday ReviewCap (3/29)
  
  Shakira “performs” and 10 become 9…
• American Idol: Tuesday ReviewCap (4/4)
  
  Tonight’s theme is “Country Music.” Kill me now.
• American Idol: Wednesday ReviewCap (4/5)
  
  Kenny Rogers sings, and 9 become 8...
• American Idol: Tuesday ReCap (4/11)
  
  It’s Queen for a day—and I’m not talkin’ about Seacrest.
• American Idol: Wednesday ReCap (4/12)
  
  Fluff happens, and 8 become 7…
• American Idol: Tuesday Recap (4/18)
  
  Tonight’s theme: Songs By Dead People (with Rod Stewart)
• American Idol: Wednesday Recap (4/19)
  
  Taylor makes a choice, and 7 become 6…
• American Idol: Tuesday Recap (4/25)
  
  Love songs in the key of “suck.”
• American Idol: Wednesday Recap (4/26)
  
  The blind lead the tone deaf—right out the door.
• American Idol: Tuesday Recap (5/2)
  
  2 Themes. 2 Songs. 2 Much.
• American Idol: Wednesday Recap (5/3)
  
  5 become 4…
• American Idol: Tuesday Recap (5/9)
  
  Viva Las Idiots! Welcome to Elvis Night...
• American Idol: Wednesday Recap (5/10)
  
  4 become 3 and it’s all shook up. Seriously.
• American Idol: Tuesday Recap (5/16)
  
  The power of three will make you flee…
• American Idol: Wednesday Recap (5/17)
  
  You can go home again—and stay there. 3 become 2…
• American Idol: Tuesday Recap (5/23)
  
  The Final Two’s final performances. Finally.
• American Idol: Wednesday Recap (5/24)
  
  And the winner is...