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Wild Card Selections Advancing to the Top 13: Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy and Jasmine Murray.
Wild Card Selections Advancing to the Top 13: Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy and Jasmine Murray.


== Top 13 - Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 Songbook ==
*'''[[Lil Rounds]]''' - "[[The Way You Make Me Feel]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Scott MacIntyre]]''' - "[[Dangerous (album)|Keep the Faith]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Danny Gokey]]''' - "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Michael Sarver]]''' - "[[You Are Not Alone]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Jasmine Murray]]''' - "[[I'll Be There]]" (The Jackson 5)
*'''[[Kris Allen]]''' - "[[Remember the Time]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Allison Iraheta]]''' - "[[Give In to Me]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Anoop Desai]]''' - "[[Beat It]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Jorge Núñez (singer)|Jorge Núñez]]''' - "[[Never Can Say Goodbye]]" (The Jackson 5)
*'''[[Megan Joy]]''' - "[[Rockin' Robin (song)|Rockin' Robin]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Adam Lambert]]''' - "[[Black or White]]" (Michael Jackson)
*'''[[Matt Giraud]]''' - "[[Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)|Human Nature]]" (Michael Jackson)
* '''Alexis Grace''' - "[[Dirty Diana]]" (Michael Jackson)

Bottom 2/Eliminated: Jorge Núñez and Jasmine Murray <br>
2 contestants rumoured to have made up the bottom 4 as they were brought up with one of the eliminated contestants were Megan Joy (brought up with Jasmine) and Anoop Desai (brought up with Jorge). Seacrest never revealed that those two were the 3rd and 4th least voted but it was heavely implied so that is why it they are placed on the table. Seacrest announced that Jorge recieved the least amount of votes which also makes implications that Anoop (who was standing next to Jorge) was the next lowest vote recipient (after Jasmine).
==Finalists==
==Finalists==
*'''[[Kris Allen]]''', 23 (born June 21, 1985) from [[Conway, Arkansas]] – a college student who auditioned in [[Louisville, Kentucky]]. He became known after his group performance of "[[I Want You Back]]" by [[The Jackson 5]] during Hollywood week with a group called ''White Chocolate'', along with fellow finalist [[Matt Giraud]]. He is now married to his [[childhood sweetheart]].
*'''[[Kris Allen]]''', 23 (born June 21, 1985) from [[Conway, Arkansas]] – a college student who auditioned in [[Louisville, Kentucky]]. He became known after his group performance of "[[I Want You Back]]" by [[The Jackson 5]] during Hollywood week with a group called ''White Chocolate'', along with fellow finalist [[Matt Giraud]]. He is now married to his [[childhood sweetheart]].

Revision as of 23:05, 8 April 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 episodes27
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 would feature fewer "William Hung-like" contestants and "funny auditions," and would quickly move its focus to the potential singers during the earlier stages of the competition, thus moving the season at a faster pace. The results shows were cut down to a half-hour, as they had been before season five.[2] Mike Darnell, president of Fox's alternative programming, said the contestants would be more emotional and that viewers would learn more about them and their pasts than they had in the previous season.[3] Songwriter and record producer Kara DioGuardi was added as a permanent fourth judge on the panel. She had previously collaborated with Celine Dion, Hilary Duff, Enrique Iglesias, Leona Lewis and Christina Aguilera, and produced several Top 40 hits. As a songwriter, she had already worked with several American Idol alumni and winners, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, David Archuleta and David Cook.[4] Meanwhile, Ken Warwick became the new executive producer, as Nigel Lythgoe had left the show to focus on So You Think You Can Dance and his new show with Simon Fuller, Superstars of Dance.[5] Idol Gives Back was canceled for season 8, as the ongoing economic crisis and recession, left Idol officials uncomfortable asking financially struggling viewers to donate.[6] The semifinals saw the biggest change as the wild card round returned for the first time since the third season. After voters picked three finalists from each of three groups of 12 semi-finalists, the judges selected eight of the previously eliminated 27 semifinalists to return and perform a song on the March 5, 2009, show. They were judged by the panel, instead of a vote by the viewers, with four advancing to the finals.[7][8] Although the finals had been billed from the beginning of the season as a set of 12 contestants, the judges announced at the last minute that they would be advancing a thirteenth contestant, Anoop Desai, as well.

Another change in the Idol format, which was revealed on March 11, 2009, is that the judges are eligible to exercise a veto power on one eliminated contestant at any given point of the competition and spare them from elimination for that particular week. This can only be invoked up until the Final 5. The following week two contestants will be eliminated if the save is used because nobody is eliminated on the week that the save is used. The save can only be used once and it must be unanimous.

Early process

Regional auditions phase

Locations

Auditions were held in the following cities:[9]

Audition City Date Audition Venue
San Francisco, California[10] July 17, 2008 Cow Palace
Louisville, Kentucky[11] July 21, 2008 Freedom Hall
Glendale, Arizona[12] 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.[13]
The song theme is shared by 3 groups of performers: Billboard Hot 100 Hits

Below are the three semi-final groups with all contestants eliminated, advanced and if they were chosen for the Wild Card round. Contestants are listed in their performance order.

Semi-Final Group 1

Advancing to the Top 13: Danny Gokey, Michael Sarver and Alexis Grace (highest female vote recipient)
Wild Card Contenders: Ricky Braddy, Tatiana Del Toro and Anoop Desai

Semi-Final Group 2

Advancing to the Top 13: Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta (highest female vote recipient)
Wild Card Contenders: Jasmine Murray, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy and Jesse Langseth

Semi-Final Group 3

Advancing to the Top 13: Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Núñez and Lil Rounds (highest female vote recipient)
Wild Card Contenders: Von Smith

Wild Card Round

Wild Card Selections Advancing to the Top 13: Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy and Jasmine Murray.

Finalists

  1. "Man in the Mirror" (Michael Jackson)
  2. "Remember the Time" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Make You Feel My Love" (Garth Brooks)
  4. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" (Marvin Gaye)
  5. "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers)
  6. "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" (Don Henley)
  • Anoop Desai, 22 (born December 20, 1986) from Chapel Hill, North Carolina – a college student who auditioned in Kansas City, Missouri. He impressed the judges when he auditioned in Kansas City.[14] While at school he was one of the lead singers of the UNC Clef Hangers, an a cappella vocal group that covered multiple genres of music. Desai was announced as the 13th finalist after the judges increased the finals into a Top 13. He is of Indian descent and is an only child.
  1. "Angel of Mine" (Monica)
  2. "My Prerogative" (Bobby Brown)
  3. "Beat It" (Michael Jackson)
  4. "Always on My Mind" (Brenda Lee)
  5. "Ooo Baby Baby" (The Miracles)
  6. "Caught Up" (Usher) - Bottom 2 April 1, 2009
  7. "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper)
  1. "Viva la Vida" (Coldplay)
  2. "Who's Lovin' You" (The Jackson 5)
  3. "Human Nature" (Michael Jackson)
  4. "So Small" (Carrie Underwood)
  5. "Let's Get It On" (Marvin Gaye) - Bottom 2 March 26, 2009
  6. "You Found Me" (The Fray)
  7. "Part-Time Lover" (Stevie Wonder)
  • Danny Gokey, 28 (born April 24, 1980) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin – a praise and worship music director who auditioned in Kansas City, Missouri along with best friend Jamar Rogers. Both made it through, but Rogers was eliminated during Hollywood week. Four weeks before the audition, Gokey's wife, Sophia, diagnosed with a congenital heart disease, died during routine surgery.
  1. "Hero" (Mariah Carey)
  2. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Jesus, Take the Wheel" (Carrie Underwood)
  4. "Get Ready" (The Temptations)
  5. "What Hurts the Most" (Rascal Flatts)
  6. "Stand by Me" (Mickey Gilley)
  1. "Alone" (Heart)
  2. "Give In to Me" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Blame It on Your Heart" (Patty Loveless) - Bottom 3 March 18, 2009
  4. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (The Temptations)
  5. "Don't Speak" (No Doubt) - Bottom 3 April 1, 2009
  6. "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Bonnie Raitt)
  • Adam Lambert, 27 (born January 29, 1982) from San Diego, California – a stage actor who auditioned in San Francisco, California. Before auditioning for American Idol, he was in the touring and Los Angeles casts of Wicked.
  1. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (The Rolling Stones)
  2. "Black or White" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Ring of Fire" (Johnny Cash)
  4. "The Tracks of My Tears" (The Miracles)
  5. "Play That Funky Music" (Wild Cherry)
  6. "Mad World" (Tears for Fears)
  • Scott MacIntyre, 23 (born June 22, 1985) from Scottsdale, Arizona – a visually impaired pianist who auditioned in Phoenix, Arizona. MacIntyre 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.
  1. "Mandolin Rain" (Bruce Hornsby and the Range)
  2. "Keep the Faith" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Wild Angels" (Martina McBride)
  4. "You Can't Hurry Love" (The Supremes) - Bottom 3 March 26, 2009
  5. "Just the Way You Are" (Billy Joel)
  6. "The Search Is Over" (Survivor)
  1. "Be Without You" (Mary J. Blige)
  2. "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Independence Day" (Martina McBride)
  4. "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" (Martha and the Vandellas)
  5. "I Surrender" (Celine Dion)
  6. "What's Love Got to Do with It" (Tina Turner)
  1. "Put Your Records On" (Corinne Bailey Rae)
  2. "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" (KT Tunstall)
  3. "Rockin' Robin" (Michael Jackson)
  4. "Walkin' After Midnight" (Patsy Cline)
  5. "For Once in My Life" (Stevie Wonder)
  6. "Turn Your Lights Down Low" (Lauryn Hill & Bob Marley) - Eliminated April 1, 2009
  1. "I Don't Want to Be" (Gavin DeGraw)
  2. "You Are Not Alone" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" (Garth Brooks) - Bottom 2 March 18, 2009
  4. "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (The Temptations) - Eliminated March 26, 2009
  • Alexis Grace, 21 (born June 9, 1987), from Memphis, Tennessee – a stay-at-home mom who auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky with the song Doctor Feelgood by Mötley Crüe. She had auditioned twice previously for American Idol, without making it to Hollywood. Has a young daughter, Ryan, and is engaged to marry the child's father, Ryan. After her Top 36 performance, Cowell compared her to Kelly Clarkson. She was eliminated on March 18, 2009. In her interview with Entertainment Weekly, she laments she was no able to play the guitar on the show.
  1. "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (Aretha Franklin)
  2. "Dirty Diana" (Michael Jackson)
  3. "Jolene" (Dolly Parton) - Eliminated March 18, 2009
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John)
  2. "Never Can Say Goodbye" (The Jackson 5) - Eliminated March 11, 2009
  1. "Love Song" (Sara Bareilles)
  2. "Reflection" (Christina Aguilera)
  3. "I'll Be There" (The Jackson 5) - Eliminated March 11, 2009

Weekly song themes

Results night performances

For the finals, season 4 winner Carrie Underwood remade Mötley Crüe's "Home Sweet Home" as the exit song.

Group song

After the Top 11 program, Justin Guarini, while hosting Idol Wrap on TV Guide channel, made the assertion that the show's group performances were being lip-synced. This was later confirmed by producers. [19]

Other performances

In addition, songs are played during the elimination night to promote an artist, single, album, or the show itself. Included is a list of those songs with their Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Digital Songs reactions.

Week Performer(s) Title Hot 100
Reaction
Hot Digital Songs
Reaction
Notes
Top 36/Group 1 Carly Smithson
Michael Johns
"The Letter" Was Never Released Ineligible to chart
(No legal digital release)
live performance
Top 36/Group 2 Brooke White "Hold Up My Heart" 47 (debut) 27 (51,171 +999%) live performance
Top 36/Group 3 No performer
Top 13 Kanye West "Heartless" 7 (+1) 13 (95,223 +18%) pre-recorded[20]
Kelly Clarkson "My Life Would Suck Without You" 5 (+4) 6 (141,167 +38%) live performance
Top 11 Brad Paisley "Then" 35 (debut) 18 (64,127 +999%) live performance
Carrie Underwood
Randy Travis
"I Told You So" 9 (+48) 4 (125,806 +701%) pre-recorded[21]
Top 10 Ruben Studdard "Together" did not debut N/A* pre-recorded[22]
Smokey Robinson
Joss Stone
"You’re the One for Me" did not debut N/A* live performance
Stevie Wonder "Motown" Medley: "My Chérie Amour"/"Superstition"/
"Overjoyed"/"All About the Love Again"
ineligible to re-enter N/A* live performance
Top 9 David Cook "Come Back to Me" TBA TBA pre-recorded
Lady Gaga "Poker Face" TBA TBA live performance
Top 8 Kellie Pickler[23] "Best Days of Your Life" TBA TBA live performance
Flo Rida[24] "Right Round" TBA TBA Uknown
Top 7 Miley Cyrus[25] "The Climb" TBA TBA pre-recorded
Top 6 TBA TBA TBA TBA
Top 5 TBA TBA TBA TBA
Top 4 TBA TBA TBA TBA
Top 3 TBA TBA TBA TBA
Top 2 TBA TBA TBA TBA
  • Idol alumnus Jason Castro was scheduled to perform his single "Love Uncompromised" during the results show of the Group 3 week, but ended up canceling. [citation needed]
  • * Nothing performed during Motown Week was found on the Hot Digital Songs that is viewable to the public. However, according to iTunes, Ruben Studdard went top 70 on the R&B/Soul chart, Smokey Robinson and Joss Stone went top 50 on the same chart, while Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" went top 40 on the same chart as well.

Elimination chart

Legend
Did Not Perform Female Male Top 36 Wild Card Top 13 Winner
Safe
Bottom 3
Bottom 2
Eliminated
Judges' Save
Stage: Semi-Finals Wild
Card
Finals
Week:
2/18
2/261
3/4
3/5
3/112
3/18
3/263
4/1
4/8
4/15
4/22
4/29
5/6
5/13
5/20
Place Contestant Result
Kris Allen Top 13
Anoop Desai WC Top 13 Btm 3 Btm 2
Matt Giraud WC Top 13 Btm 2
Danny Gokey Top 13
Allison Iraheta Top 13 Btm 3 Btm 3
Adam Lambert Top 13
Scott MacIntyre Top 13 Btm 3
Lil Rounds Top 13
9 Megan Joy WC Top 13 Btm 4 Elim
10 Michael Sarver Top 13 Btm 2 Elim
11 Alexis Grace Top 13 Elim
12-13 Jorge Núñez Top 13 Elim
Jasmine Murray WC Top 13
Wild
Card
Ricky Braddy WC Elim
Tatiana Del Toro WC
Jesse Langseth WC
Von Smith WC
Semi-
Final 3
Arianna Afsar Elim
Felicia Barton
Kendall Beard
Ju'Not Joyner
Nathaniel Marshall
Kristen McNamara
Taylor Vaifanua
Alex Wagner-Trugman
Semi-
Final 2
Matt Breitzke Elim
Mishavonna Henson
Kai Kalama
Nick Mitchell
Jeanine Vailes
Semi-
Final 1
Ann Marie Boskovich Elim
Casey Carlson
Stephen Fowler
Brent Keith
Jackie Tohn
Stevie Wright

1 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.
2 Ryan never specifically said who the bottom three or four was, but Megan Joy was brought up with Jasmine Murray and Anoop Desai with Jorge Nuñez for dramatic effect.
3 Due to the White House Press Conference on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, the performance show was moved to Wednesday, March 25 and the results show was moved to Thursday, March 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.[26]
  • In the Top 13, the expected phone number for Alexis Grace, IDOLS-13, was not owned by American Idol, but by a company called Intimate Encounters, who used it as a sex line. Although host Ryan Seacrest made ample mention of the replacement phone number, IDOLS-36, some commentators feared that the phone number confusion could lead to Grace being inadvertently voted off the show.[27] This, however, did not occur.

Releases

iTunes

As in 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 13 live performances videos and audios, as well as studio recordings

Songs from guest performers, such as Brooke White, are also available on the American Idol portion of iTunes.

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. ^ Associated Press
  5. ^ Lythgoe Leaving 'American Idol'
  6. ^ American Idol Shelves "Give Back" Show for 2009 Season
  7. ^ Fox releases 'American Idol' schedule, confirms format changes
  8. ^ MTV How WIll The Wild-Card Round Work On 'American Idol'
  9. ^ Who Will Be The Next Singing Superstar? - American Idol News
  10. ^ Release says San Francisco; arena is actually in Daly City, though part of its property is in San Francisco.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Release says Phoenix; arena is actually in Glendale.
  13. ^ http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/1564 Top 36 Revealed!
  14. ^ http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-anoop-desai-090203,0,3263665.story
  15. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lil-rounds/bio/296852
  16. ^ Megan Joy dumps the Corkrey
  17. ^ Katie Byrne (March 6, 2009). "Megan Joy Corkrey On Her 'American Idol' Dance Moves: 'It Just Happens'". mtv.com.
  18. ^ [1]
  19. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607786/20090326/story.jhtml 'American Idol' Producers Admit Group Sing-Alongs Are Lip-Synched
  20. ^ Borzillo-Vrenna, Carrie (March 11, 2009). "American Idol: What You Didn't See". E!. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  21. ^ Vary, Adam B. (March 18, 2009). "American Idol: On the scene at the Top 11 performance night -- special appearance by Carrie Underwood!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 18, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ Pastorek, Whitney (March 26, 2009). "American Idol: On the scene for Top 10 performance night". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 26, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/1617
  24. ^ Ryan Seacrest confirmed it on the live performances. Source
  25. ^ "Nervous" Miley Cyrus Performs on American Idol
  26. ^ Joanna Pacitti DISQUALIFIED From "American Idol"
  27. ^ "Will 'Idol' Phone Snafu Sink Alexis Grace?". Retrieved 2009-03-15.
Preceded by American Idol
Season 8 (2009)
Succeeded by
Season 9 (2010)