American Idol, a TV sensation since I was 12 years old, has been around for over half of my life and is ending its run after 15 seasons. I'm not afraid to admit I have been a big fan of the show (for the most part). I didn't get into the show until season 3, and I took a hiatus from the show in seasons 12 and 13 (thanks to judging changes, mostly). So I'll only be discussing seasons 3-11, 14 and 15 here. I've already done a blog on my Top 10 American Idols ever, so I won't rank individual contestants.
First up, however, I will order the Top 5 of each season and how it should've finished. In some special situations I will include a person who didn't make the Top 5. Why Top 5? Because it's a nice, round number and the fact that the current season is at the Top 5 stage now.
Season 3:
1. Jennifer Hudson
2. Fantasia Barrino
3. Diana DeGarmo
4. LaToya London
5. George Huff
Recap: Season 3 was definitely a female-dominated season. J-Hud being eliminated in 7th is still one of the biggest shockers in AI history. She clearly had the talent to win. But after that the viewers did fairly decently in voting the best towards the end.
Season 4:
1. Carrie Underwood
2. Constantine Maroulis
3. Bo Bice
4. Vonzell Solomon
5. Anthony Federov
Recap: The fact that Scott Savol made the Top 5 is one of the biggest jokes in AI history. I know what you're thinking: Who?! At least the voters got the right winner this time. Constantine should've made it farther, and it's a shame he was 6th and not 2nd.
Season 5:
1. Chris Daughtry
2. Katharine McPhee
3. Kellie Pickler
4. Taylor Hicks
5. Elliot Yamin
Recap: I feel like Chris Daughtry was just something the AI voters weren't ready for. With seasons 7-11 we saw an influx of male rockers. If he had auditioned a season or two later he would've won that respective season. The voters just weren't ready to crown a rocker as the American Idol. McPhee and Pickler have had decent careers, while Hicks and Yamin both made it farther than they should've.
Season 6:
1. Jordin Sparks
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. Blake Lewis
4. LaKisha Jones
5. Chris Richardson
Recap: This season was surprisingly devoid of much talent. Jordin has become a very respectable recording artist, but no one else has done much. I admit I was biased towards Blake Lewis when I watched this season, but he was still a Top 3 talent based on the lack of other talent.
Season 7:
1. David Cook
2. David Archuleta
3. Syesha Mercado
4. Carly Smithson
5. Jason Castro
Recap: The voters did fairly well this season. Carly Smithson should've made it further than she did. But other than that, no complaints here. I wanted Archie to win it when it aired but in retrospect I see Cook was the better performer.
Season 8
1. Adam Lambert
2. Danny Gokey
3. Alison Iraheta
4. Kris Allen
5. Matt Giraud
Recap: The order that it actually happened makes me shake my head to this day. Kris is one of the lowest selling AI winners ever, yet he had SERIOUS competition for the title, with three artists who each deserved to win it more than he did, especially Adam Lambert, one of my favorite contestants ever. In a season full of flavor, a bland, dull artist won.
Season 9
1. Lee DeWyze
2. Siobhan Magnus
3. Crystal Bowersox
4. Didi Benami
5. Casey James
Recap: Season 9 is known by most as having the worst talent for any season. Lee DeWyze is known as one of the worst, if not THE worst winner ever, yet you can't argue he didn't deserve to win because no one else could really make a claim. I will say Siobhan Magnus should've made it much further, she was quite a talent. Didi Benami was a joy to watch every week and I think was a surprise elimination.
Season 10
1. Haley Reinhart
2. Scotty McCreery
3. James Durbin
4. Lauren Alaina
5. Casey Abrams
Recap: Following a talent-less season we had a season chalked-full of talent, but boy did the voters screw things up. The voters were clearly mainly country fans and voted the two country singers into the top 2. Haley Reinhart gave some of the best AI performances ever (Bennie and the Jets, House of the Rising Sun) and finished third. James had a range that rivaled Adam Lambert. I give Scotty credit since he has done fairly well since AI so I give him 2nd.
Season 11
1. Phillip Phillips
2. Jessica Sanchez
3. Colton Dixon
4. Joshua Ledet
5. Skylar Laine
Recap: The voters didn't do too bad, but Colton should've made it further as well as Skylar. Josh Ledet gave great performances but hasn't done much since AI. But all in all they got the winner right.
Season 14
1. Clark Beckham
2. Nick Fradiani
3. Jax
4. Rayvon Owen
5. Sarina Joy-Crowe
Recap: Just a year later I can tell this season didn't have a ton of talent. Clark should've won, with a vocal range like none other. Jax and Rayvon were decent but in other seasons they'd finish 5th-10th. Sarina was a surprise exit I thought; I had her making the final 4.
Season 15
1. LaPorsha Renae
2. Trent Harmon
3. Sonika Vaid
4. Mackenzie Bourg
5. Dalton Rapatoni
Recap: I don't know if I've seen a season where someone clearly stood a head above everyone else. Adam Lambert was close in season 8, but he had competition (clearly). But LaPorsha should definitely win the final season. She has been giving powerhouse performance after powerhouse performance. Trent is the best male vocalist of the season and should be the runner-up. Sonika has been in danger the last few weeks but shouldn't be 5th (although she probably will be). I have Mackenzie over Dalton because Mackenzie has a better sounding tone of voice. Dalton is highly overrated and has gotten by largely due to his looks.
Now, onto something else with American Idol. Ranking the seasons in terms of the amount of talent. Not in the winner, but in the entire season. Counting the final season, I will have seen 11 of 15 seasons. Ranking them from worst to first:
11. Season 9 - Lee DeWyze over Crystal Bowersox and Casey James. 'Nuff said.
10. Season 14 - Who's going to have success here? Nick? Clark? Jax?
9. Season 6 - So there's Jordin... but that's it. Blake is decent, but no one else will do anything.
8. Season 15 - Gotta be honest... unless LaPorsha has a Jennifer Hudson-like career, this season is really lacking talent. We'll see, though.
7. Season 11 - Phillip Phillips is decent, Sanchez is ok too, but... not much else
6. Season 4 - Carrie CARRIES this season... see what I did there? They'd be one of the lowest ranked seasons in terms of talent if not for her.
5. Season 7 - Cook is decent, but not exactly a superstar. After Archuleta, I have trouble remembering everyone else.
4. Season 5 - Chris and Kat, a deadly duo that should've been Top 2.
3. Season 3 - The divas make up the talent here. The lack of dude talent hurts, though.
2. Season 10 - Diversity, artistry, you name it. No clear superstars, but a nice bunch of talent.
1. Season 8 - Adam Lambert. 'Nuff said.
Finally, I will pick the best person to finish at each spot, 12 through 1, in the show's run (including seasons I didn't watch).
12th: David Hernandez (Season 7), Runner Up: Sarina Joy-Crowe (Season 14)
David was a surprise at the time, I believe... but there were just too many David's that season.
11th: Alexis Grace (Season 8), Runner Up: Mikalah Gordon (Season 4)
Alexis was in a very talented season, and she just had a bad week if I remember correctly.
10th: Didi Benami (Season 9), Runner Up: Lisa Tucker (Season 5)
Didi was a surprise and should've made the end on a bad season.
9th: Pia Toscano (Season 10), Runner Up: Mandisa (Season 5)
Pia's elimination may have been the biggest shocker ever, with her being eliminated before guys like Paul McDonald and Stefano Langone.
8th: Michael Johns (Season 7), Runner Up: Nadia Turner (Season 4)
Michael Johns (RIP) was a surprise elimination, for sure. Nadia Turner had us convinced she was the daughter of Tina Turner.
7th: Jennifer Hudson (Season 3), Runner Up: Colton Dixon (Season 11)
Now we're getting to the nitty-gritty. As I said earlier Jennifer's exit was a shocker. Colton had a decent shot at winning as well.
6th: Kellie Pickler (Season 5), Runner Up: Casey Abrams (Season 10)
Kellie has had a successful career, while the runner up was a toss-up between Casey and Constantine Maroulis.
5th: Jacob Lusk (Season 10), Runner Up: Skylar Laine (Season 11)
Not too many great singers in the 5 spot, but Jacob had such a range and Skylar had such a pure country voice.
4th: Chris Daughtry (Season 5), Runner Up: Josh Gracin (Season 2)
No question Daughtry is the best 4th place finisher ever. Although I didn't see season 2 I know Gracin has done some good things. Hard not to include James Durbin here.
3rd: Haley Reinhart (Season 10), Runner Up: Danny Gokey (Season 8)
It's a shame... I think more of these two than I do the singers who won the same season they were on.
2nd: Adam Lambert (Season 8), Runner Up: Clay Aiken (Season 2)
Adam is the best runner up ever. And ha! Clay is even a runner up here.
1st: Kelly Clarkson (Season 1), Carrie Underwood (Season 4)
Depending on personal preference you could swap these two but these are the two unquestioned two best winners.
I will finish with this: I will actually miss American Idol. Will I watch "The Voice" or any other talent shows? Probably not. But I grew up with AI, daydreaming about auditioning and competing on American Idol. Thanks for all the great music and memories, AI.
