Well, the series finale of American Idol has just aired, and the final American Idol is....Trent Harmon.



But tonight was more about celebrating the entirety of the show, and all of the past winners and many of the runner-up contestants, as well as William Hung and that "pants on the ground" guy also were featured in the finale. Even original co-host Brian Dunkleman joined in on the festivities.



Carrie Underwood performed "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" with Keith Urban and later performed a solo song from her album Storyteller.



Season 3 winner Fantasia was reunited with her fellow diva contestants Latoya London and Jennfier Hudson.



Even the original judges made an appearance late in the program, though it appeared that Simon Cowell would not show up only to have him make a "surprise" appearance.



Former judge Kara DioGuardi actually performed a song on this finale, which was a little odd considering she is primarily known as a songwriter. Steven Tyler, Nicki Minaj, and Ellen Degeneres all taped congratulatory segments, but sadly there was no presence from Mariah Carey.

But alas, the show which was once a cultural institution has exited from the airwaves. Now I know there are a ton of Orgers on here who couldn't wait for this show's demise, but you have to give credit for the way it transformed not only music but television as well. Thanks to Idol, we got shows like The Voice, America's Got Talent, The Apprentice, Hell's Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, and most recently Little Big Shots. Even Shark Tank, wich isn't technically a competition show, owes much of its format to Idol's audition rounds.

Whatever you thoughts on this show, it's clear there won't be another show with quite the cultural reach like this to air on TV ever, not since the TV landscape got so fractured with cable and now streaming services like Netfix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

National-Radio played clips of Trent singing during the ceremony and Dude sounded FLAT & Pitchy....

728huey said:

Well, the series finale of American Idol has just aired, and the final American Idol is....Trent Harmon.



But tonight was more about celebrating the entirety of the show, and all of the past winners and many of the runner-up contestants, as well as William Hung and that "pants on the ground" guy also were featured in the finale. Even original co-host Brian Dunkleman joined in on the festivities.



Carrie Underwood performed "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" with Keith Urban and later performed a solo song from her album Storyteller.



Season 3 winner Fantasia was reunited with her fellow diva contestants Latoya London and Jennfier Hudson.



Even the original judges made an appearance late in the program, though it appeared that Simon Cowell would not show up only to have him make a "surprise" appearance.



Former judge Kara DioGuardi actually performed a song on this finale, which was a little odd considering she is primarily known as a songwriter. Steven Tyler, Nicki Minaj, and Ellen Degeneres all taped congratulatory segments, but sadly there was no presence from Mariah Carey.

But alas, the show which was once a cultural institution has exited from the airwaves. Now I know there are a ton of Orgers on here who couldn't wait for this show's demise, but you have to give credit for the way it transformed not only music but television as well. Thanks to Idol, we got shows like The Voice, America's Got Talent, The Apprentice, Hell's Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, and most recently Little Big Shots. Even Shark Tank, wich isn't technically a competition show, owes much of its format to Idol's audition rounds.

Whatever you thoughts on this show, it's clear there won't be another show with quite the cultural reach like this to air on TV ever, not since the TV landscape got so fractured with cable and now streaming services like Netfix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

Mixed feelings about "what" this show was. Though no one can deny the cultural effect it had and what it spawned in other shows, but that is not necessarily a plus and positive thing. And though it's effect is felt in the artists such as Kelly Clarkson Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood, it is also felt with those like Katharine McPhee and some others. I think, however the show lost its effect many years ago and was almost like the "show" that would not go away or just stayed too long past its jump the shark phase. THe main effect for AMerican Idol early on was bringing out amazing talent labels were missing, by having contestants sing others songs, people argued that the show was just becoming a rotation of have a hit now and gone tomorrow, which was really what it was for most not too many still are known to even record with the exception the few I mentioned and some others too like Danny Gokey, Pia Toscano and others who some have gone into other forms of music, Danny is now gospel and Pia has worked with some Dance producers and in a group too. I think we can also argue that this show almost became more about the people who shouldnt have even been there, people for a time were tuning in to hear fights and insults and awful singing, example Bikini Girl etc....So for the most part the show would have better been served probably leaving a decade ago or at least 5 years, but it held on and I think in a way as the music business and music in general has taken a back seat to people, American Idol has really had a backseat for a bit and should have left earlier.

Chancellor said:

I didn't watch a single show this year.

Chancellor said:

National-Radio played clips of Trent singing during the ceremony and Dude sounded FLAT & Pitchy....

I agree. I didn't follow the show this season because I knew how it eventually was going to end. I did watch bits and pieces of the finale and I was like, really, these two were the best of the bunch??? The song I heard that Trent guy sing sounded horrible. I'm glad the show is finally gone. It should have ended after Simon booked.

kitbradley said:

Chancellor said:

National-Radio played clips of Trent singing during the ceremony and Dude sounded FLAT & Pitchy....

I agree. I didn't follow the show this season because I knew how it eventually was going to end. I did watch bits and pieces of the finale and I was like, really, these two were the best of the bunch??? The song I heard that Trent guy sing sounded horrible. I'm glad the show is finally gone. It should have ended after Simon booked.

Agreed.

I've not watched Idol since season 8 or 9. I watched the finale, and didn't know half the people on there.

Simon showing up was funny. Not gut busting or anything. The medleys were painful, and it reminded me why I stopped watching it.

Frankly, the only thing that mattered was J-Lo's dress when she came out at the start of the show.

I hope to God they don't try to reboot it as something else. Someone mentioned recently in an interview (possibly Randy) that they think there might be another type of show as big (!) as Idol, in another version or something. Then Ryan Seacrest signs off with "Goodbye America....for now".

Jesus and baby Jesus, please don't let this tripe come back to our teleplates.

Graycap23 said:

I didn't watch a single show this year.

I haven't watched since Steven Tyler left. Keith Urban gives me the creeps. How much plastic surgery has this guy had? There was no way in hell I was watching with Mariah and Minaj

Empress said:

Graycap23 said:

I didn't watch a single show this year.

I haven't watched since Steven Tyler left. Keith Urban gives me the creeps. How much plastic surgery has this guy had? There was no way in hell I was watching with Mariah and Minaj

You haven't missed much..........and neither have I.

Lol....

Empress said:

Wooh. For a second there I thought that read 'RIP BILLY IDOL! ' Close call. American Idol ? Whatever .....

[Edited 4/8/16 19:00pm]

It looks like it had a fun finale, now if only The Voice and So You Think You Can Dance would just go away.

Hudson said:

It looks like it had a fun finale, now if only The Voice and So You Think You Can Dance would just go away.

Whats wrong So You Think You Can Dance?

kitbradley said:

Chancellor said:

National-Radio played clips of Trent singing during the ceremony and Dude sounded FLAT & Pitchy....

I agree. I didn't follow the show this season because I knew how it eventually was going to end. I did watch bits and pieces of the finale and I was like, really, these two were the best of the bunch??? The song I heard that Trent guy sing sounded horrible. I'm glad the show is finally gone. It should have ended after Simon booked.

LaPortia is a better singer, Trent was more versitle in style...but I agree Trent is flat

Graycap23 said:

Hudson said:

It looks like it had a fun finale, now if only The Voice and So You Think You Can Dance would just go away.

Whats wrong So You Think You Can Dance?

What's right with it?


Sorry if i annoyed fans of that show I won't speak on it again.

Hudson said:

Graycap23 said:

Whats wrong So You Think You Can Dance?

What's right with it?


Sorry if i annoyed fans of that show I won't speak on it again.

Some of the best young dancers in the world are on that show.

Bye, bye!

Graycap23 said:

Hudson said:

What's right with it?


Sorry if i annoyed fans of that show I won't speak on it again.

Some of the best young dancers in the world are on that show.

Yeah, that's just selfishness on my part. I don't enjoy watching young dancers and get annoyed by all the coverage it gets.

MotownSubdivision said:

This topic should have been made a decade ago. American Idol was no Star Search and it's amazing how it managed to last this long, barely fulfilling its purpose.

Yep!

Revolution said:

dancerella said:

Empress said:

I haven't watched since Steven Tyler left. Keith Urban gives me the creeps. How much plastic surgery has this guy had? There was no way in hell I was watching with Mariah and Minaj

I've been trying to figure out what bugs me about Keith Urban and I think it's how plastic and unnatural his face looks. Ugh!

Totally agree. Have you seen pictures of him when he was much younger before all the plastic surgery? Not sure when he looked worse?

Ditto on the good riddance - the show was responsible for turning pop into one giant karaoke machine.

[Edited 4/12/16 10:57am]