This season of American Idol had a lot to prove, and funnily enough, none of it was about finding the next great singer. Over the past five months, we’ve scrutinized America’s second favorite show (yeah, somehow (and this is the woman who wore a tearaway dress last year, revealing a bikini under it). The dialogue between DioGuardi and Casey James during his audition reads like a porn.
Casey “I’m willing to do anything that I need to do.”
Kara “What about unbuttoning your shirt a little bit?”
Randy “Take it off.”
Kara, to Victoria Beckham “Don’t you want to see it?”
Cut to Casey, bare-chested and wondering why some Forever 21-clad cougar is trying to hijack his singing career and a bag of bones dressed in Gucci is eyeing him like he’s a Coke Zero. And scene.
“Straight Up” Now Tell Me When I’m Eliminated
Poor Andrew Garcia, he gave one of the only truly interesting performances of the season when he rehashed Paula Abdul‘s “Straight Up” during Hollywood Week, but he was never able to relive that during his time in the Top 12. And the judges reminded him of it again…and again…and again. He might not have fared well in the competition, but we kinda wish he releases his cover as a single.
The Judges
So it’s Simon Cowell‘s final season of Idol before he moves on to The X-Factor.  Paula Abdul has already left and taken most of her glitter eyeshadow with her. Ellen DeGeneres made her debut. And let’s face it, the judges make this show what it is. Who doesn’t tune in just to hear Simon call someone “atrocious” or throw out an entendre or two? So people have tuned in out of curiosity – they want to bid Cowell farewell, see how Ellen and her non-musical ear will do, and lament Paula’s absence. This season marks the beginning of the end it seems, or at least the beginning of a whole lotta changes, for the series. (And by the way, the above picture is from 2003, but why wouldn’t be want to post a picture of Paula dressed like a princess?)
The First Idol Baby
Plenty of Idol contestants have been parents just trying to support their families, but we’re pretty sure we’ve never actually had a baby’s birth narrated by Ryan Seacrest. But when Michael Lynche made it to Hollywood, he had to hear his wife give birth on the other end of an iPhone. Luckily, Mama and Baby Lynche were able to come stay with Big Mike while he sang his way through the show. His rendition of “This Woman’s Work” was made more poignant by his story and even made Kara cry (for show, obvs, she’s Kara remember?) but it was one of the more touching personal moments this show has brought us.
The Elimination Process
This is probably our most solid case for why the show is no longer about the music. Sure, Crystal Bowersox is an amazing performer and a born musician, and Lee DeWyze can sing the crap out of a power ballad but (don’t hate us) Casey James is not and cannot. And yet he’s in the final three. Not to mention  the fact that Alex Lambert, our early favorite (despite his hair) was booted before he even had a chance to make it to the Top 12. Same with Lilly Scott – sure, her sound wasn’t music to our ears, but she was original and definitely had more talent that Top Twelvers like Paige Miles and Lacey Brown. Sure, musical taste is subjective, but ability is not.
We’re not sure if we’re optimistic about next season, to be honest. If Randy Jackson and Kara and Ellen (who, God love her, doesn’t add much to the show, in our opinion) are the anchors of the show, this, uh, ship may have sailed. (Forgive our New England-y seafaring metaphors.)  In the meantime, we’re still excited for this week’s finale and eagerly await the announcement of who America has chosen to idolize (but will subsequently forget about) this season.
[Photos: Getty Images/]
