American Idol: Season 15 - Final 2 Perform (SERIES FINALE RECAP)

Hello my friends one last time!  It's partly bittersweet, it's partly a relief but inevitably it is finally here.  This is my final recap for American Idol's initial broadcast run.  Of course, I have to word it like this because there is all of this talk about how one day (probably sooner than later) it may return in a new form.  So, I can't necessarily rule out any future musings from yours truly if I make the unwise decision to fall into the inescapable trap again!  Yes, I joke around.  I may act like I hated every minute but anyone that's still sticking with this recap to the bitter end knows that I loved mostly every minute of it.  For all of the awful performances, cheesy moments, judging table round robins, this was one crazy 15 year experience.  And there is no denying it, stars DID emerge from this show.  They may have found the best ones early on, but we've been treated to some great performances over the years.

The actual final performances of our final 2 tonight is almost an afterthought to what this season really represented.  It was a celebration of achievement of American Idol's entire run.  If anyone watched the recap special Tuesday night it was a nice retrospective on the accomplishments of the series.  From the uncertainty of everything in season 1 to the fully established mega-phenomenonthe show became.   They bookended the retrospective with Kelly Clarkson's audition and with her final live performance earlier this season.  And that pretty much says it all.  This show really was what it was because they found a SUPERSTAR in that 1st season.  Every season after that had contestants who aspired to come on the show and become the next Kelly.  And sure, they found some that may have had equal or more success, but it was Kelly that started it all.  Even Carrie Underwood admitted in the retrospective that Kelly inspired her to audition.  But, no one needs me to keep hammering home who my favorite (Who are we kidding? the BEST) idol is!?  I've brought it up every season multiple times!  Kelly will be on Thursday night's series finale but in a pre-taped performance due to her being extremely near giving birth to her 2nd child.

Okay, I'm rambling.  It's been awhile since I did that right?  We do have a job to do tonight and that is to pick one final winner of American Idol.  I've gotten 8 of 14 picks correct.  The whole male guitar trend really threw me off in the 2nd half of the series.  Could it possibly happen again in this final season?  Only one way to find out.  It's time to dive into our real-time recap ONE LAST TIME!  

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 3 Perform

Hello American Idol friends!  We're back for our final non-finale week of recapping!  Next week we're getting "treated" (there is a time when I'd say tortured, but it's the last week!) with 3 episodes starting on Tuesday with a retrospective.  Wednesday will be the performances of the final 2 (and I'd assume the elimination of the 3rd).  Then Thursday the all out 2 hour bash of a series finale with tons of cameos of Idol's past.  Should be a good time!  But, we have things to do this week before we get there.  And as per usual, my schedule is hectic so I'll be bringing my thoughts to you in real time!  Here we go:

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 4 Perform

Hello American Idol friends!  We're getting closer and closer to the end here.  David Cook, Katharine McPhee returned and gave us some great performances.  I apologize for not calling out Lambert last week, he was good too!  It's tough to write these things these days as I know I've mentioned a few times.  Here are my real time thoughts as per usual this season:

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 6 Perform

Hello American Idol fans!  And just like that we have a Top 5.  This season is flying by and it's getting tougher and tougher to sit down for 2 hours of TV in this crazy house!  But, I am persevering until the end.  Real-time comments ahead, yet again!

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 8 Perform, 6 Move On

Hello American Idol Friends and we're back for another round of performances in this final season.  No time to waste, lets get into my real-time commentary and picks!

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 10 Perform, 8 Move On

Hello American Idol friends!  We're all probably still reeling from last week's amazing Kelly Clarkson performance, I'm sure! But, we have to keep moving on without our inaugural winner and have a job to do.  Things are still crazy in the V. House so I will continue to do my real-time recapping.  Here goes nothing!

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 10 Perform

Hello American Idol fans! Wow, Jenn goes home!  But, no fear we had Kelly Clarkson to see us through the 2 hour ordeal of losing her.  And it was just awesome to have her critiquing all night and then to give her potential send-off performance on the Idol Stage.  My top 10 performance recaps come to you in real-time again.  Our near 22 month old daughter was wide awake and screaming in our ears during the show, but I think we were able to hear everything pretty well!  Here goes nothing!

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 14 Wildcard Night

Hello American Idol fans!  We almost have our top 10!  4 were revealed by the judges tonight and we were given a look at the remaining 10 who have a shot at the other 6 spots.  I documented my thoughts in real time and highlighted my picks to get into the to 10 with some thoughts afterwards.  I'm all about the efficiency these days!  Let's dive in.

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 24 The Other 12

Hello American Idol fandom!  We continue this final season with another round of pre-recorded Top 24 performances.  Just like last week, I'll give my brief thoughts on these 12 and a best guess at who will go home Thursday after the duets.  Not sure if I mentioned it last week, but I actually really enjoyed seeing all the Idol alums come back for duet night.  Most of them, excluding maybe Scotty, really showed their growth over the years.  It's a nice touch to see many of the alums returning week to week.  Looking forward to next week when Kelly arrives as a guest judge and performer!!

With that said, let's dive in! 

American Idol: Season 15 - Top 24 First 12

Hello Idol Nation!  We're back for one final season!  We had some commentary on the auditions and Hollywood week.  I had reservations of starting to recap this week since the show is still prerecorded and America isn't voting.  But you know me.  Eventually, I just get the bug and have to say something!  So I jotted down some brief thoughts on each contestant.  I won't be recapping duet night on Thursday because the judges will be making their cuts on the same night.  So, I'll give some early thoughts on who stands the best chance to be eliminated.

Then, Thursday night we can just sit back and enjoy the soothing sounds of these amateurs with Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Nick Fradiani, Caleb Johnson, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery.  Yep, I made the same groaning noise.  Maybe we're building up to the better Idol alum guests!  Better get Kelly out there before her 3rd trimester!!

Okay, enough of my rambling.  My brief take on the 1st 12 of the Top 24 are after the jump.

American Idol: Season 15 - The Pre-Recorded Shows Discussion Post.

Hello friends who have hung in there until the very end!  This is the final season of American Idol!  I've threatened to quit this many times since season 4, but here we are 11 years later.  The audience has dwindled, the show's quality has had its ups and downs.  But, there's no doubt this truly marks the end of an era.  I'm looking forward to this season more than I have in a while because there are many opportunities for nostalgia throughout this final season.  I'm sure we'll get many visitors from Idol's past throughout the season.  And I do have my dream of all idol winners on stage in the Series Finale.  Will it all come to pass?  Time will tell!


For now, we have a job to do.  But, as previous years have dictated, I will not recap these pre-recorded shows.  Instead, this post will be available for discussion as we go through the auditions, Hollywood and maybe some of the semi-finals.  But once we get to the Top 12, 11, 10 whatever they deem the finals, I'll be back in my recapping glory!  One. Last. Time!


Hope to see you in the comments and I'll see you for the live shows!