In James Poniewozik’s temporary absence, I’ve been asked to write tonight’s Idol Watch. There’s just one problem: somehow, even after eight and a half seasons, I’ve never seen a single episode of the nation’s most popular singing competition. Ever. I don’t watch reality TV and I’m terrified of Ryan Seacrest, the magical robot. I do, however, have some Idol Watch qualifications: I listen to a lot of music and I’m very judgmental. That, and a little recon work on YouTube, is all you need to be an American Idol viewer, right?
—by Claire Suddath
Read Last Week’s Review of the American Idol Final 9, Part II »